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katiieecat's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
notladylike's review
2.0
Was very surprised by the ending, and not in a good way. I feel like the entire book was leading up to this grand finale, and it totally fell flat. I like a mystery that feels at least a little bit solvable, and there were barely any clear hints or clues that it would end the way it did. And ultimately, the "bad guy" got away...twice. Trigger warnings would have been really helpful, but they are also a spoiler.
yetanothersusan's review
4.0
Vittorio, a psychoanalyst, marries a beautiful dancer, Lisandra. Lisandra is found dead from a fall out of their 6th story window. Vittorio is arrested for her murder. So far so good. But then one of Vittorio's patients decides to help him and begins investigating. From here, you journey through Eva Marie's life along with Lisandra and Vittorio's. Honestly, I forgot it was a suspenseful mystery. Instead it was an interesting read about the people in Buenos Aries Argentina after the junta. There are several references to the political upheaval and horrible tortures and killings. Luckily for those who are not versed in South American history, there were several footnotes to illuminate the reader. I was startled when the killer reveals themself and even more startled by what followed. Once again, I would not compare this book to The Girl on the Train or The Silent Wife. This book is much smoother in its progression. You are comfortable right until the ending is revealed. As an aside, this book was translated to English. The author uses language that might be considered crude to the normal American reader.
This book was provided by Penguin in exchange for an objective review.
This book was provided by Penguin in exchange for an objective review.
neurodivengeance's review
1.0
Content note for book and review: child rape, child abuse
How many fucking times: STOP SENSATIONALISING RAPE/CHILD RAPE/CHILD ABUSE AND USING IT AS A FUCKING PLOT TWIST
Aside from being actively harmful to so many survivors, it's just so fucking LAZY.
I felt I shouldn't read this book, I knew I should stop? It was mediocre before it got terrible. But I kept going. I wish I'd listened to myself, the ending was so fucking triggering - and needlessly so. So needless. Fuck this shit.
How many fucking times: STOP SENSATIONALISING RAPE/CHILD RAPE/CHILD ABUSE AND USING IT AS A FUCKING PLOT TWIST
Aside from being actively harmful to so many survivors, it's just so fucking LAZY.
I felt I shouldn't read this book, I knew I should stop? It was mediocre before it got terrible. But I kept going. I wish I'd listened to myself, the ending was so fucking triggering - and needlessly so. So needless. Fuck this shit.
catherineofalx's review
1.0
The first half was frustrating because the book basically relied on the novelty of Buenos Aires to create excitement. If you know the place, all the mate-sucking Borges-quoting junta-splaining in the world is not going to get you in the escapist frantic thriller zone that the author is clearly trying to facilitate. The second half, though, is a bizarre list of sexcapades that ultimately uses trauma as gotcha in a way that while not necessarily badly intentioned comes off as...tacky.
vesper1931's review
2.0
It's 1987, Buenos Aires, 1987 and Lisandra is found dead at the bottom of a 6 storey building. When her husband, a psychoanalyst, is arrested, one of his patients, Eva Maria, decides to prove his innocence.
Found it very difficult to care if he was guilty or innocent.
Free book from Goodreads.
Found it very difficult to care if he was guilty or innocent.
Free book from Goodreads.
imjustcupcake's review
3.0
I was pretty excited to learn that I had won a digital advanced reading copy of this book from the First to Read program. I was in the mood to read a psychological suspense novel. I wanted something that would keep me on my toes and guessing through the whole thing.
Well, it did keep me guessing through the whole thing...
This story is a "who done it" kind of story. Lisandra P. is dead. She was found four stories down from one of her apartment windows dead on the street. Thrown. The police automatically suspected her husband Vittorio of the crime.
Vittorio was a shrink, a psychoanalyst. And one of he had recruited one of his patients, Eva Maria to help him figure out who really did kill his wife (as he denied that it was him).
So we follow Eva Maria as she tries to puzzle the whole mystery together to try to prove that Vittorio did not kill his wife.
Sounds like a great read right?
Well, it could have been. It had great potential. However, it dragged...a lot. There were some moments that I was completely pulled in, but the parts that were slow far exceeded the interesting bits.
I also never really found myself connected with any of the characters in the story. I wish I could have found some connection, but it just never happened.
I also kept finding myself running into bits of the story that I just didn't fully understand. I guess they were meant for building the character profiles, but I could have done without some of it.
I really wish I could have gotten to read this one in its original language. I think it would have been better as I am sure that some things were lost in translation.
All in all, I really wanted to like this book, but it fell very short for me. I finished it because curiosity and the hope that it would get better kept me going.
My Rating
2.5 Stars
This review is based on an eARC provided by the publishers via the First to Read program in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
Well, it did keep me guessing through the whole thing...
This story is a "who done it" kind of story. Lisandra P. is dead. She was found four stories down from one of her apartment windows dead on the street. Thrown. The police automatically suspected her husband Vittorio of the crime.
Vittorio was a shrink, a psychoanalyst. And one of he had recruited one of his patients, Eva Maria to help him figure out who really did kill his wife (as he denied that it was him).
So we follow Eva Maria as she tries to puzzle the whole mystery together to try to prove that Vittorio did not kill his wife.
Sounds like a great read right?
Well, it could have been. It had great potential. However, it dragged...a lot. There were some moments that I was completely pulled in, but the parts that were slow far exceeded the interesting bits.
I also never really found myself connected with any of the characters in the story. I wish I could have found some connection, but it just never happened.
I also kept finding myself running into bits of the story that I just didn't fully understand. I guess they were meant for building the character profiles, but I could have done without some of it.
I really wish I could have gotten to read this one in its original language. I think it would have been better as I am sure that some things were lost in translation.
All in all, I really wanted to like this book, but it fell very short for me. I finished it because curiosity and the hope that it would get better kept me going.
My Rating
2.5 Stars
This review is based on an eARC provided by the publishers via the First to Read program in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
ohsoreads's review
5.0
I love mystery books & this one took an emotional toll on me. It went into specific details & helped me to picture the story as I read on. At one point, I was so close to breaking down while reading it on the train. It’s an excellent read for those who appreciate a crime story.