lostinwater's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaelarenee7's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bessadams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Infidelity, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Police brutality, Sexual content, Drug use, Drug abuse, Deportation, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Suicide
akiyawat's review against another edition
2.0
hiding this from book club ppl so if u are in book club beware
****************
meh this was fine. largely unlikable characters with very loosely one-dimensional backstories. pretty predictable plot twists except for one which was somewhat exciting but happened in the last like 10 pages so. it somehow managed to keep up a suspenseful vibe which i did enjoy so like long story short...meh
****************
meh this was fine. largely unlikable characters with very loosely one-dimensional backstories. pretty predictable plot twists except for one which was somewhat exciting but happened in the last like 10 pages so. it somehow managed to keep up a suspenseful vibe which i did enjoy so like long story short...meh
kyscg's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is the kinda book I imagine people that watch TV series will love to read.
foxsnitch's review against another edition
4.0
I mostly enjoyed the story, but there were definitely a few things that bugged me. First and foremost, I actually really enjoyed the main character Jess. Was she incompetent and foolish at times? Yes. But she wasn't a detective (not even an amateur), she was just looking for her brother who had gone missing in a foreign country. She hardly even knew their language. I think anyone who was dealing with her situation would act foolishly at times.
The other characters were largely unlikable, but I think that was the point. The story could have done without the concierge though. She was an unnecessary addition and I rolled my eyes when every chapter of hers ended with "Everything had changed ever since he showed up" or something to that effect. I realize she owed somewhat of a debt to the family, but she really didn't need to be so cryptic and she could've helped Jess out a lot more than she did.
Lastly, as someone else had mentioned in their review, why was everyone always described as sweaty and smelling of cigarettes and alcohol? The descriptions became redundant and I cringed thinking of how rancid the characters would smell.
Overall, I really did enjoy the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Ben. I had an inkling of what was going to happen, but there were definitely twists that I did not see coming. It was a fun read that only took me a couple of days to get through.
The other characters were largely unlikable, but I think that was the point. The story could have done without the concierge though. She was an unnecessary addition and I rolled my eyes when every chapter of hers ended with "Everything had changed ever since he showed up" or something to that effect. I realize she owed somewhat of a debt to the family, but she really didn't need to be so cryptic and she could've helped Jess out a lot more than she did.
Lastly, as someone else had mentioned in their review, why was everyone always described as sweaty and smelling of cigarettes and alcohol? The descriptions became redundant and I cringed thinking of how rancid the characters would smell.
Overall, I really did enjoy the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Ben. I had an inkling of what was going to happen, but there were definitely twists that I did not see coming. It was a fun read that only took me a couple of days to get through.
tackling_the_tbrs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
peyyyyton23's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
coffeeandnovels46's review against another edition
5.0
Was slow off and on throughout, but it kept me interested on to what happened to Ben, and some of the other central characters in the novel.
4.5/5 ☆☆☆☆
4.5/5 ☆☆☆☆