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kristyloves2read's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I loved this book. For Ms. Singh fans this is not a romance. This book is full of mystery and suspense. Aarav Rai lost his mother years ago, but it isn't until the book begins that he understands that it wasn't because she left, but because she was killed. But Aarav himself is having memory issues and that has made everything harder to understand.
Aarav is an unreliable narrator and he is meant to be, this isn't accidental or a byproduct of bad writing, but a genius move on Nalini Singh's part. You can't trust what Aarav remembers and you spend half the novel wondering if what you have been told is right or wrong. The twist at the end is both predictable and unpredictable because of it. You know a twist is coming and you know it's going to be good, but when you get there, bang, OMG.
Overall I loved this book and what I didn't like does not discourage me from giving this book 5 stars.
There were two things I didn't like, both have to do with the ending of the book. The first one is that I felt that the end (after the twist) was a little rushed. I wish she had taken more time to unravel everything especially some of the stuff that Aarav remembered unclearly. But I think this too is deliberate, meant to leave you feeling as confused as Aarav must still be with his memories.
The second thing I didn't like contains a spoiler so don't read on if you don't want to know...
Spoiler Ahead:
So the second thing I didn't like is how in the Epilogue he ends up with Lily. Sure the book refers to her as a friend, but how they got there feels completely foreign and undeveloped. Now, this could be the 4-month gap between the end and the epilogue, but their whole relationship was so weird and off from the beginning that I wish I would have gotten a better explanation of how they got to that point, even if the answer would have been as simple as saying I don't know how I would have gotten thought the last 4 months without her.
Aarav is an unreliable narrator and he is meant to be, this isn't accidental or a byproduct of bad writing, but a genius move on Nalini Singh's part. You can't trust what Aarav remembers and you spend half the novel wondering if what you have been told is right or wrong. The twist at the end is both predictable and unpredictable because of it. You know a twist is coming and you know it's going to be good, but when you get there, bang, OMG.
Overall I loved this book and what I didn't like does not discourage me from giving this book 5 stars.
There were two things I didn't like, both have to do with the ending of the book. The first one is that I felt that the end (after the twist) was a little rushed. I wish she had taken more time to unravel everything especially some of the stuff that Aarav remembered unclearly. But I think this too is deliberate, meant to leave you feeling as confused as Aarav must still be with his memories.
The second thing I didn't like contains a spoiler so don't read on if you don't want to know...
Spoiler Ahead:
So the second thing I didn't like is how in the Epilogue he ends up with Lily. Sure the book refers to her as a friend, but how they got there feels completely foreign and undeveloped. Now, this could be the 4-month gap between the end and the epilogue, but their whole relationship was so weird and off from the beginning that I wish I would have gotten a better explanation of how they got to that point, even if the answer would have been as simple as saying I don't know how I would have gotten thought the last 4 months without her.
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
4.0
Ten years ago, Nina disappeared after a vicious argument with her husband. Aarav remembers hearing her scream. And the front door closing. Twice.
His mother's remains are found in her Jaguar - a tomb in the bush. Still healing from a recent car accident- Aarav has a broken leg and a hard hit on his house. Living with his dad to aid his recovery, Aarav becomes obsessed with solving his mother's murder. Vague memories emerge, Aarav begins to question the events of that night.
Wealthy families live in the Cul-de-sac. What are they hiding? Gambling issues. Infidelity. Domestic violence.
This plot is a slow build. Amazingly lyrical descriptions of the New Zealand bush - plants taking over, lush foliage, black beaches. Neighborhoods and their dark secrets. Traditional family roles. This is a very complex look at those we trust and love.
His mother's remains are found in her Jaguar - a tomb in the bush. Still healing from a recent car accident- Aarav has a broken leg and a hard hit on his house. Living with his dad to aid his recovery, Aarav becomes obsessed with solving his mother's murder. Vague memories emerge, Aarav begins to question the events of that night.
Wealthy families live in the Cul-de-sac. What are they hiding? Gambling issues. Infidelity. Domestic violence.
This plot is a slow build. Amazingly lyrical descriptions of the New Zealand bush - plants taking over, lush foliage, black beaches. Neighborhoods and their dark secrets. Traditional family roles. This is a very complex look at those we trust and love.
veka's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Loved the book and it was fun having the book set across the world in New Zealand
lavins's review against another edition
3.0
I would say a 3-3.5 stars for this book.
It is a good book, a good mystery, not predictable at all, a bit confusing as the main character is having serious memory lapses due to a brain injury so most of the time he is second guessing himself and we do not know if his memories are accurate or not.
On the other thing, there is a bit too much drama and too many characters and I think this is what killed it a bit for me.
All in all a good read.
It is a good book, a good mystery, not predictable at all, a bit confusing as the main character is having serious memory lapses due to a brain injury so most of the time he is second guessing himself and we do not know if his memories are accurate or not.
On the other thing, there is a bit too much drama and too many characters and I think this is what killed it a bit for me.
All in all a good read.
ktrainofthoughts's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hollyk_1592's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
librosymas's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
shannonli1026's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
margardenlady's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Singh spins a convoluted web around this injured, tormented author in New Zealand. His mother went missing when he was a teen and his relationship with his wealthy and controlling dad is fraught. Then his mother’s body is found 10 years later and as he searches for the truth, he begins to have jarring memory lapses and migraines. All is not what it seems in this wealthy cul de sac.
bhaarathy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75