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jelkebooks's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This might be a lame review because I don't really have a whole lot to say about this book. I just felt extremely fine about it. I had a decent enough time reading this book. It's not like it did not let me go, but it was also very readable. It was a relatively quick read, and I enjoyed my time well enough.
This book is dual POV, with us getting a POV from Liz and Erin. However, I need to say that Liz's POV felt a bit unnececary to me. I don't know. Erin was a much more interesting character to follow and it felt like she played a much more active part in the plot. Everytime a chapter from Liz's POV came up I just wish we were could get back to Erin's. I do get why it was included, I guess but overall I do still think this book would have also worked without it.
The rest of the cast of characters was also quite interesting. They were an eclectic bunch, and I really liked their dynamic. It worked well for a book of this kind. There is so much underlying tension between them all that's just bubbling under the surface. It makes it so that anyone could be the perpetrator, or the next victim. They weren't all very likeable, nor all as fleshed out as others but it did still make for an interesting read.
The big reveal was also just fine. I don't know. I just kind of kept waiting for the other shoe the drop. It wasn't nececarily a bad reveal, but I just felt a bit meh about it. It definitely isn't a great one either. Because it happened relatively early on in the book, I just felt like something bigger was coming. It didn't. I get why the decision was made to reveal it so early on. It make sense with what else happens in the book but I just felt meh about it all.
This book is dual POV, with us getting a POV from Liz and Erin. However, I need to say that Liz's POV felt a bit unnececary to me. I don't know. Erin was a much more interesting character to follow and it felt like she played a much more active part in the plot. Everytime a chapter from Liz's POV came up I just wish we were could get back to Erin's. I do get why it was included, I guess but overall I do still think this book would have also worked without it.
The rest of the cast of characters was also quite interesting. They were an eclectic bunch, and I really liked their dynamic. It worked well for a book of this kind. There is so much underlying tension between them all that's just bubbling under the surface. It makes it so that anyone could be the perpetrator, or the next victim. They weren't all very likeable, nor all as fleshed out as others but it did still make for an interesting read.
The big reveal was also just fine. I don't know. I just kind of kept waiting for the other shoe the drop. It wasn't nececarily a bad reveal, but I just felt a bit meh about it. It definitely isn't a great one either. Because it happened relatively early on in the book, I just felt like something bigger was coming. It didn't. I get why the decision was made to reveal it so early on. It make sense with what else happens in the book but I just felt meh about it all.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Grief
boeseanni's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Suicide
maddlecat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Suicide
nja820's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Ware builds tension and develops characters so well. You care what happens to these people. The plot itself was just ok, but you stay for the well rounded characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Gore, Sexual assault, and Suicide
kimberly19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I discovered Ruh Ware by listening to the podcast All About Agatha. She was promoting her latest book. Her respect for Dame Christie is shown by her use of certain devices. For example, the exact phrase used by a murder victim when she realizes something she saw is similar to Murder is Announced. The concept of the book - a group of people cut off from society being murdered One By One is similar to the setup of "Then there were None"
But this is not a victorian era mystery. Set in the Swiss Alps all but 2 characters are the employees/former employees of a Tech Start-Up. One on the verge of a buyout or going public. The two founders are battling for control. Then one founder goes missing while skiing followed quickly by the chalet being hit by an avalanche. As murders follow and secrets are spilled the tension spirals.
But this is not a victorian era mystery. Set in the Swiss Alps all but 2 characters are the employees/former employees of a Tech Start-Up. One on the verge of a buyout or going public. The two founders are battling for control. Then one founder goes missing while skiing followed quickly by the chalet being hit by an avalanche. As murders follow and secrets are spilled the tension spirals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide
timbookshelf's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault
julienicole1106's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
suneaters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A great mystery story. The ending was really tense. The ending where Erin and her friend Danny are hiding out and trying to skii away from Liz had me on the edge of my seat! The devolving relationships between Elliot, Topher, Rik, Liz, and Eva over what to do with their company was so interesting. The second Elliot dies is when everything goes to shit for them. I had my suspicions about who it was, but didn't expect Liz, but then again, none of them did!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
morganperks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Suicide