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reiding's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
2.0
tayparks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.75
kbrunot's review against another edition
2.5
There was too much going on, so all the plots fell flat and left more to be desired. It wanted to be an Agatha Christie so badly with the setting and plot, but it was boring and a bit predictable. I found her abduction story plot to be more interesting than the actual main plot. The ending left me very curious about what happened but not enough to be willing to read the other Shana Merchant books.
meganmonique's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
On an isolated, storm-struck island in the Thousand Islands region of New York, a man is reported missing. Has he run away, or does the blood foul din the house indicate something more sinister has happened? Who among the elite group of guests could be a murderer? Detective Shana Merchant is trying to find out, while also battling her own demons after barely surviving being abducted by a serial killer the year before...
I loved the classic whodunnit, locked-room mystery vibes of this one. The cast of characters were all suspicious in their own way, keeping me guessing until the end. The mystery of Shana's past added a whole new layer, and now I'm excited for the next one (out later this year!). It started off a little slow for my taste, but the second half of the book really made up for it.
On an isolated, storm-struck island in the Thousand Islands region of New York, a man is reported missing. Has he run away, or does the blood foul din the house indicate something more sinister has happened? Who among the elite group of guests could be a murderer? Detective Shana Merchant is trying to find out, while also battling her own demons after barely surviving being abducted by a serial killer the year before...
I loved the classic whodunnit, locked-room mystery vibes of this one. The cast of characters were all suspicious in their own way, keeping me guessing until the end. The mystery of Shana's past added a whole new layer, and now I'm excited for the next one (out later this year!). It started off a little slow for my taste, but the second half of the book really made up for it.
aggreenhouse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
lee_hillshire's review against another edition
There's just way too much going on.
After I was a ways into the book, I noticed it said "A Shana Merchant novel" on the cover, which explained an issue I was having with the novel, so I looked up which order in the series this book fell in. Turns out this is book one. So that actually didn't explain any of the stuff I was having issues with.
There's basically two main plots to this book, but those main plots all have their own little subplots and diversions, and it turns it into a soap opera. It reminds me a lot of the TV show Castle, and I really hate the writing of Castle. Plus this book didn't even have Ryan and Esposito to ease the bored frustration from time to time.
The murder on the island plotline was generally strong. The characters were dull and frustrating, but the setting (and to an extent even the characters) were highly reminiscent of Agatha Christie, especially And Then There Were None, which is a high compliment for a mystery novel from me.
But overall the book just gets overwhelmed and bogged down by trying to be melodramatic and twisty without establishing any characters (like. Any at all) that I cared about whatsoever. Which left the book falling flat and becoming entirely boring, despite the atmospheric setting that made me want to enjoy it.
After I was a ways into the book, I noticed it said "A Shana Merchant novel" on the cover, which explained an issue I was having with the novel, so I looked up which order in the series this book fell in. Turns out this is book one. So that actually didn't explain any of the stuff I was having issues with.
There's basically two main plots to this book, but those main plots all have their own little subplots and diversions, and it turns it into a soap opera. It reminds me a lot of the TV show Castle, and I really hate the writing of Castle. Plus this book didn't even have Ryan and Esposito to ease the bored frustration from time to time.
The murder on the island plotline was generally strong. The characters were dull and frustrating, but the setting (and to an extent even the characters) were highly reminiscent of Agatha Christie, especially And Then There Were None, which is a high compliment for a mystery novel from me.
But overall the book just gets overwhelmed and bogged down by trying to be melodramatic and twisty without establishing any characters (like. Any at all) that I cared about whatsoever. Which left the book falling flat and becoming entirely boring, despite the atmospheric setting that made me want to enjoy it.
tanyak0203's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story. Not many likeable characters.
I didn't like that the fiancee was clearly no good, and it took the main detective most of the book to realize it. I also didn't like that she kept questioning and second guessing herself - it's a perfectly valid part of the characterization, but one I dislike.
I didn't like that the fiancee was clearly no good, and it took the main detective most of the book to realize it. I also didn't like that she kept questioning and second guessing herself - it's a perfectly valid part of the characterization, but one I dislike.
cookie10231's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Awesome to read a book set in New York!!
jenny_steffens'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5