girlwiththepinkskimask's review against another edition
5.0
SOUND THE ALARM BECAUSE IT'S A MFN BANGER ALERT
alexblackreads's review against another edition
3.0
I felt like I've watched this episode of Criminal Minds before. It wasn't exactly the most original plot, but I do enjoy reading more of Lisa Gardner's stories and following the returning main characters along their lives, like Detective DD Warren. There's just something so pleasant in the way Lisa Gardner crafts her stories and they're easily enjoyed.
jaxgirl007's review against another edition
4.0
Before starting this book, I hadn't read the previous D.D. Warren stories. After reading this book, I'm very interested in returning to the beginning and checking out the others. I found this book to be very engaging and it kept me guessing (and a bit freaked out) until the very end. The dialogue throughout is crisp and almost a bit comical at some points. You get the full range of emotions in this outing with D.D.
Gardner does a great job writing a story with an interesting and original premise: entire families murdered by the patriarch which seem open and shut murder-suicides but that become more complicated once other connections become obvious.
The only slight negative is that I found D.D. Warren herself to be the least interesting of the characters and a bit too one-dimensional in her personality make-up at certain points; however, it might be that reading the earlier novels would fill in some of the blanks. It was refreshing to see so much emphasis put on the supporting characters so that the ending made sense and it didn't seem like Gardner relied upon D.D. for all the action during the story.
Gardner weaves 3-4 different stories at once and while this can easily become confusing or one story doesn't get developed enough to make sense, she does a great job here of making each story interesting and just connected enough so that it doesn't feel like she's off in left field at any point. Her ending delivered and was a great end to a clever plot.
I highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Gardner does a great job writing a story with an interesting and original premise: entire families murdered by the patriarch which seem open and shut murder-suicides but that become more complicated once other connections become obvious.
The only slight negative is that I found D.D. Warren herself to be the least interesting of the characters and a bit too one-dimensional in her personality make-up at certain points; however, it might be that reading the earlier novels would fill in some of the blanks. It was refreshing to see so much emphasis put on the supporting characters so that the ending made sense and it didn't seem like Gardner relied upon D.D. for all the action during the story.
Gardner weaves 3-4 different stories at once and while this can easily become confusing or one story doesn't get developed enough to make sense, she does a great job here of making each story interesting and just connected enough so that it doesn't feel like she's off in left field at any point. Her ending delivered and was a great end to a clever plot.
I highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
cpriley401's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
anova's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoy reading this series and Live to Tell has a fantastic start. I was hooked from the page one. We have three POVs in this one – D.D., Victoria (mother of child with behavioral issues) and Danielle (nurse who work with children with mental and behavioral issues). D.D. has a new case – whole family was killed and it looks like father did it. But D.D. is not so sure.
I was interested how will these storylines connect and I definitely wasn't disappointed. I loved it! I read a half of this book in one sitting and that don’t happen much any more. My enjoyment was off the roof. Plus Bobby Dodge made a little appearance as well!
I was interested how will these storylines connect and I definitely wasn't disappointed. I loved it! I read a half of this book in one sitting and that don’t happen much any more. My enjoyment was off the roof. Plus Bobby Dodge made a little appearance as well!
bookworm_enni's review against another edition
4.0
Very disturbing story as it deals with young children with serve mental problems but a book you can't put down. The characters draw you in from the very start.
This was my first of the D.D. Warren series but I have read other books by Lisa Gardner before. I will definitely look for the three previous books from this series.
This was my first of the D.D. Warren series but I have read other books by Lisa Gardner before. I will definitely look for the three previous books from this series.
damsorrow's review against another edition
I love false crime novels and I love people from Boston doing bad things up there
d_ho16's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5 stars? I guess? It was a fast read & compelling in the sense that it went quick and I wanted to see how it all came together. But it was weirdly sexist for a novel with mainly female characters, relied so heavily on “oh! a plot twist!!!”-types of interactions, and everything just felt too convenient. Like, ok, the eventual culprit’s motives make “sense” but only based on a single piece of information that seems to come out of nowhere at the end. It wraps up a little too cleanly in a way that makes it feel unsatisfying, and DD Warren doesn’t seem to solve the case so much as it just solves itself for her. This was fine for quick entertainment, but I don’t see it being a book that sticks with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Child death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Murder
ashankidd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5