austinstorm's review against another edition
4.0
The bond between mothers and their newborn children has been mined for horror before - most famously with Rosemary's Baby - but there's plenty more creeping horror to be found.
This book is kind-spirited, and straightforward. The first 3rd is the most plot-heavy and moved very quickly. The middle dragged a bit, and the ending was somewhat underwhelming. But the characters and writing are very good, and the atmosphere is top-notch. I hope she writes more genre.
Feels like a 'writers workshop' kind of book - like Before I Go to Sleep or Gone Girl. It felt workshopped, if you know what I mean. Not a bad thing, I don't think.
This book is kind-spirited, and straightforward. The first 3rd is the most plot-heavy and moved very quickly. The middle dragged a bit, and the ending was somewhat underwhelming. But the characters and writing are very good, and the atmosphere is top-notch. I hope she writes more genre.
Feels like a 'writers workshop' kind of book - like Before I Go to Sleep or Gone Girl. It felt workshopped, if you know what I mean. Not a bad thing, I don't think.
batcountry's review against another edition
3.0
I like this book, but after reflecting on it a few days, there were a few things that were either wrapped up 1)badly or 2)not at all at the end of the book, so I had to knock it down from 4 to 3 stars. The writing is solid except for that problem, and it's a good, weird, sad story, but the holes in the end bug me.
patrisias's review
5.0
Well done! It was particularly successful in creating a creepy and disconnected atmosphere.
seddso's review against another edition
5.0
Having abandoned three books due to the plot being unacceptably close to my own bereavements this year , I thought I was safe with this book. 45% in, turns out bereavement is a major component. But , this book is good.
I bought it because I felt like a scary read , and this book delivers - not shocking but menacing. And the ending wouldn't be out of place on the big screen.
Some parts were difficult for me ie reading about someone getting through a funeral for someone very close was too close for comfort.
Then I thought about the afterlife - a question this book forces you to think about. Is it true ? Does this happen ? Will that make me sad or happy?
Does the author need to think about this as she writes , for fear of upsetting your reader or making them put the book down? I think not. The ending made me cry in two ways - one with worry for Tim, and the other with relief for them all.
Superb.
I bought it because I felt like a scary read , and this book delivers - not shocking but menacing. And the ending wouldn't be out of place on the big screen.
Some parts were difficult for me ie reading about someone getting through a funeral for someone very close was too close for comfort.
Then I thought about the afterlife - a question this book forces you to think about. Is it true ? Does this happen ? Will that make me sad or happy?
Does the author need to think about this as she writes , for fear of upsetting your reader or making them put the book down? I think not. The ending made me cry in two ways - one with worry for Tim, and the other with relief for them all.
Superb.
harmonybat's review against another edition
3.0
An atmospheric, spooky tale about loss and grief. It lacked some of the answers I was looking for - I suppose it was more literary than the thriller I was looking for - but it was an interesting read all the same.
whosbradpitt's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up from the Kindle Lending Library and was pleasantly surprised.
Despite reading the description, I wasn't expecting this to be so heavily supernatural, but I didn't mind it. The story was compelling enough to keep me reading. I felt deeply for the parent characters and waited eagerly for resolution.
Where the book fell short of five stars was the lack of explanation. There was an issue that got resolved, but there wasn't quite enough "why" or "how" to really tie up all the loose ends. Still, it was definitely worth reading.
Despite reading the description, I wasn't expecting this to be so heavily supernatural, but I didn't mind it. The story was compelling enough to keep me reading. I felt deeply for the parent characters and waited eagerly for resolution.
Where the book fell short of five stars was the lack of explanation. There was an issue that got resolved, but there wasn't quite enough "why" or "how" to really tie up all the loose ends. Still, it was definitely worth reading.
quinnster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Spoiler
It's interesting to me how so many books tagged as "horror" really should just be tagged as "grief". It goes without saying that one of the things human fear the most is death, but it can also be said the one thing we fear more than our own death is the death of a partner or a child.What maybe could have been a terrifying story is mostly just an incredibly sad story of how Michael processes his unimaginable grief. The story starts out almost immediately with the knowledge that there is something wrong with Sarah, but there are so many curious holes in the story that somehow, though maybe important, just don't seem to matter as you continue.
Greta ends up being more annoying than creepy and we never really get to find out what she is so that was a bit unsatisfying, but nonetheless, this was a beautiful, though sad book.
ajgilmore13's review against another edition
4.0
I was very surprised by this book... The storyline was very creative. I would encourage readers to read this without reading the synopsis. It would make it that much better. The writing had just the amount of detail that I like. It didn't leave me asking questions and it didn't make me feel like I was drowning in the little things that don't matter. Well written I think!
kayliecelery's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really,really enjoyed this book! It had me up until 2 in the morning just to find out what happened to Michael and his 'Family', it was dark and twisted but enough so to keep you reading. The way that Maruyama gets your feelings really involved with the emotions that are going on, is just fantastic. I hadn't read something so gripping in quite a while, so it was nice to find this little nugget. I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy ghost stories and want to know the characters.