The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
colleen987's review against another edition
4.0
With thanks to Greg Buchanan and Pan Macmillan for an advanced readers copy of this book.
I've thought about this review for a long time and I can't cant fine a better word than uncomfortable. This book made be incredibly uncomfortable.
The writing is fantastic, dream like and almost lyrical. The story itself is gripping driven by a pair of really interesting and well developed main characters (Forensic vets! who knew they were a thing!). The setting itself of a struggling seaside town really helps to set the atmosphere. However there is a lot of animal cruelty in this book, and its very graphic in places, I'm not usually bothered by violence in a book but this really stopped me from getting as lost as I could have been in it.
I've thought about this review for a long time and I can't cant fine a better word than uncomfortable. This book made be incredibly uncomfortable.
The writing is fantastic, dream like and almost lyrical. The story itself is gripping driven by a pair of really interesting and well developed main characters (Forensic vets! who knew they were a thing!). The setting itself of a struggling seaside town really helps to set the atmosphere. However there is a lot of animal cruelty in this book, and its very graphic in places, I'm not usually bothered by violence in a book but this really stopped me from getting as lost as I could have been in it.
justdavid3113's review against another edition
2.0
This was a struggle.
I was really intrigued by the premise and the characters of Alex and Cooper. There was an interesting dynamic between them and as the story unfolded, I was enjoying it. Parts made me want to keep reading, then it started to become too much of a blur.
Mid way through I almost gave up, then a few things happened simultaneously that piqued my interest again. I wish I had given up though, as the rest was just odd. The narrative became disparate. Parts just didn’t make sense or seem to fit and I’m really not happy with the end and the supposed resolution.
I was really intrigued by the premise and the characters of Alex and Cooper. There was an interesting dynamic between them and as the story unfolded, I was enjoying it. Parts made me want to keep reading, then it started to become too much of a blur.
Mid way through I almost gave up, then a few things happened simultaneously that piqued my interest again. I wish I had given up though, as the rest was just odd. The narrative became disparate. Parts just didn’t make sense or seem to fit and I’m really not happy with the end and the supposed resolution.
wendydt's review against another edition
4.0
If this is his first book I am really looking forward to the rest. The story is given in a hazy, dreamlike style which somehow made my mind sharper. Impossible to review without giving things away.
jan_gaunt's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
2.5
I got to the end of this audiobook, thought I’d lost concentration towards the end and missed something vital. Re listened to it again from the start and had the same conclusion at the end. I enjoyed it until I stopped being  able to understand what was going on. Maybe one of those where the print edition is better? Or just me?Â
andrea_ebers's review against another edition
2.0
Ein Roman, der mit einem Gedicht von Robert Frost beginnt. Literarisch läuft mir dabei sofort das Wasser im Mund zusammen. Buchanan kann der hohen Erwartung nicht standhalten. Zu anstrengend sind die vielen kurzen Kapitel, zu bemüht mysteriös und verwirrend. Keine Figur will dem Leser näher rücken, keiner will Sympathie erwecken. Dass auf den 448 Seiten das Potenzial der Inhaltsangabe nach und nach versinkt, ist schade.
pkc's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Blood, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Suicide
ketterd4mn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting and dark animal-themed premise (not for the faint hearted or those who cannot handle animal abuse and the like) that was fairly well executed. A fantastic debut for the author. My only issue was that it was quite confusing at times, particularly at the end and I really cannot tell you the conclusion to the novel as I don’t understand it myself.
snorkmidden's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
graemeh's review against another edition
2.0
The blurb from Val McDermid on the front cover indicates I won’t read another book like this again this year. I’m glad - overly wordy, faux-philosophical, a terrible, out-of-nowhere ending and worst of all it’s just boring. I didn’t like nor care about any of the characters, their motivations were cliche and I give it a second star only because the design of the book itself was very pleasing on the eye. Not recommended, a real slog.