smexy_smerf'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Body horror, Bullying, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
wylovat's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Car accident, Murder, Abortion, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Animal death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Police brutality, Rape, and Death of parent
theknitterwithabook's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
The novel travels back and forth between 2016 and 1986. It's time for those five friends to uncover the truth.
This was my first novel from C.J. Tudor and I am hooked! This is a thriller you hurry to finish because you have so many questions. I loved that the characters were flawed and they kept "assuming" who did what and who was the killer and then it's thrown in their face they are wrong.
It keeps you second guessing everything! I love theorizing about the ending throughout my reads and I am please to say that I was wrong all along. The author made me believe and avenue right until the end. AND THE ENDING! OMG! I would never have thought that!
It just came short of 5 stars as I feel that some loose ends needed fixing and we were left without answers. But overall, this was a great story! I gasped at some memories of the main character, I flipped through the pages faster than ever and couldn't put the book down.
Spoiler
If you've read the book, please tell me I'm not the only one who thought Eddie was sleep walking and might have killed Elisa during one of those episode. Even after Chloe left, when he wanders in the woods and awake in his bed with his pajamas full of dirt, I was convinced he had sleep walked and killed Chloe. Anyway! I'm glad it wasn't the case. But the head he kept in the end! Gross!! It's made clear that he steals rubbish from everyone, but a head!!! That was too far for me! hahaha!Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Dementia, and Mental illness
Minor: Abortion
emilysaidhello's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Dementia
Minor: Abortion, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
ejr1904's review against another edition
4.25
With that in mind, im really repulsed by the slurs littered throughout (really wanted to pay homage to Stephen King I suppose).
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Rape
Moderate: Animal death
blouviere4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Death, Blood, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, Animal death, Death of parent, Dementia, Abortion, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Car accident
megpadams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Spoiler
- Wtf was that ending! I low key expected it because there were hints all the way through but it was so sudden!
- I really wanted it to turn out to be supernatural
- Still not entirely sure about the dreams- trauma or was Ed starting to show symptoms of dementia like his dad?
- Did we ever find out who was murdered in the playground a few generations before?
- Was the traveller man at the fair actually the reverend?
Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Animal death, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Terminal illness
yossy_cookie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Fatphobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Self harm
tayahmarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
However, I did enjoy the story for what it was. I thought the plot was unique, I was invested in the characters/their fate, and it was insanely gripping. Like I mentioned in previous posts, I love dual timelines and Tudor executed it well here. My interest in wanting to find out everything I could about what happened in the past and the present day was equal.
The idea of some crazed killer drawing Chalk Men symbols around your hometown (much less a crime scene) is terrifying. Tudor is phenomenal when it comes to imagery and documenting some of the most gnarly and gruesome scenes, as well as just downright CREEPY (the church scene/one of Eddie’s nightmares towards the end? WTF!) There were a few paragraphs I had to bypass because I could actually picture what was going on and wanted to jump out of my skin and throw the book across my room. It was disgusting! That’s how you know someone’s a good writer in that realm, lol. Also, I definitely recommend looking up trigger warnings prior to reading this because there are A LOT. I wish I would’ve because I was completely caught off guard.
Final Thoughts: Overall, this was good. Really good. It was very reminiscent of a Stephen King novel (as if I read more than one book of his 😅). Lastly, this story has me looking at EVERYONE suspect 👀 - it’s pretty crazy when you think about how you don’t REALLY know someone. That goes for your family, your friends, co-workers, the person you’re sitting next to on a train/plane, etc. We all keep secrets, yes, but some are more dangerous, deadly, and downright depraved than others. The quote I chose, in the beginning, is a true sentiment to this little novel, especially the ending 😶!
Graphic: Sexual violence, Gore, Body horror, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Animal death, and Adult/minor relationship
kreaysean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence