Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White

21 reviews

ecooper99'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

4.5

This book hooked me from the first page! I’m a sucker for an unreliable narrator when done well, and whoa, White knocked the trope out of the park. I was second-guessing every little detail, constantly wondering who was hiding what. Just when I’d think, “Okay, now I’ve got it,” the story would shift, making me question everything all over again.

I loved how much attention the author gave to the secondary characters. They felt like more than just background noise; they had lives, layers, and their own secrets. 

The pacing was also spot on. It had enough tension to keep things moving without leaving me completely breathless. I’d get a little break here and there, just enough to catch up before the next twist rolled in. The whole book had this perfectly tense vibe, and it pulled me in like I was right there in the middle of everything.

I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

jarstoll's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

sarahwadd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence

k8lynn's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

not a bad book by any means, but very confusing and hard to get into. from character names heavily being dropped in the beginning and throughout to the context of the murder investigation... i'm still not 100% on what happened exactly, but part of me also enjoys the open endedness of everything. it kept my attention the whole way through; i just wish i had more clarity on everything and how it's all meant to intertwine. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

robin_b_93's review

mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Gaslighting

chelle22's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Dementia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

saliwali's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Sexism, Dementia, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

secre's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Maid's Diary is a twisty and compelling crime thriller that actually manages to pull off the twists and turns. It's a tricksy book with unexpected turns and a wonderfully unreliable narrator. Most importantly, the twists are believable and aren't just there for the shock of it or because the author gave up on the ending. It's multi-layered, leaving you wondering exactly what is going on and what perspective you can trust, shifting perspectives to give you several views of events.

Kit, the maid with a snooping problem, is portrayed through her therapy diary. Jon and his pregnant wife who have dark skeletons lurking in the corner. And the homicide officers, trying to piece together what happened that fateful evening but finding more questions than answers. Nothing is quite what it seems and the dark secrets hiding in the closets are more than anyone could guess.

This is a cleverly woven book about trauma, family secrets and the lengths we'll go to hide them and of course, revenge. It's a book of twists and turns, yet every single one of them made sense in hindsight even if I didn't see them coming. It was a quick and entertaining read that I got through easily, but certainly kept me engaged. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Stalking

Moderate: Violence

elaeagnifolium's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

yooliahzwei's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence