bleepbloop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Torture
Minor: Incest and Rape
boothdwellerbooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Emotional abuse
dosxhime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The novel goes between Jane and Andrea, who tries to discover her mother's true identity that caused her to go on the run. Andrea's growth was refreshing and cathartic to witness as it comes to light in the climax. And Jane's story intertwines with Andrea's backstory well.
The plot twists were predictable and didn't have the gut punch like Pretty Girls (rip it out of my cold dead hands that this is one of Slaughter's greatest books). However, it was done in a masterful and emotional way that I let it slide.
I was blind sided when Slaughter released a sequel to this novel so NOW I gotta go and read it. But, I am very excited for what she puts next for Andrea.
4 /5 B-
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Pedophilia and Mental illness
triple_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Sometimes Andy was a bit frustrating like I just wanted to shake her and tell her to make better decisions haha but she was still likable. Hated her and Alabama though.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape and Child abuse
cady_sass's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I’m a sucker for a good true crime/cult vibe and this is the perfect mixture. The story is told between two perspectives, present day Andrea and her mother Laura in the wake of a horrific public shooting they found themselves in the middle of, and the story of Jane and a group of friends in the early 80s unwittingly recruited into a extremist activist group that spirals out of control in the wake of one of their members acting impulsively off-plan. The two stories slowly weave their way closer to each other and converge, with many twists and turns along the way.
As with every Karin Slaughter novel, the list of trigger warnings is EXTENSIVE so be mindful before picking it up.
Edited to add: I had no idea that the author was choosing to continue Andrea’s story in her upcoming novel, which I had already unknowingly ordered in my BOTM! Can’t wait to see how this story continues
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Cursing, Blood, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Medical content, Torture, Sexual assault, Incest, Grief, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Blood, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
booksbytheglass's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
and now, I can firmly say … I also have mixed thoughts 😅🙃🫣
after watching her mother take down a shooter at a diner with ninja like style, andrea is on the run and looking for answers - and honestly so was I
such as, how can I train to become such to be a badass who doesn’t even flinch when a knife goes through her hand 😨😨😨
ANYWAY the plot line moved glacier slow, and at one point, I seriously debated if finding the answers was worth 500 pages. spoiler: it’s not really.
I wasn’t expecting where the story ended up at all, but I enjoyed the natural progression of all of the characters from the past and into present day. however, the big “master mind” reveal at the end of the book seemed super cheap and predictable 😒
especially because the author spent almost the entire book claiming how brainless this character was …
while I am glad I read this one before picking up GIRL, FORGOTTEN, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re reallyyyyy into a slow burn thriller 🫣 it was just a meh conclusion to wrap up a meh storyline
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: montréal riesling
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Gaslighting
kvoss93's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gun violence
erica_reads_things's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Spoiler
Towards the end, the authors tone while discussing domestic violence themes was a bit off putting. Though I understand that it was from the perspective of the narrator, it still threw me off. I wish that the main characters talked less about the blame for their own "choices" and more about the incredibly intense manipulation and coercion that lewd to those "choices". Are they really choices at all then?Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Medical content, Homophobia, and Cancer
bgoodbookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I feel like if trigger/content warnings for Karin Slaughter books was a multiple choice question, the answer would be all of the above.
Graphic: Murder and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Toxic relationship, Injury/injury detail, Homophobia, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Dementia, Suicide, and Rape