faraway_'s review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I feel nothing and not in a good way. This was just really underwhelming.
Besides, it kept spoiling a bunch of mystery novels that I would've liked to read --> not fun
Besides, it kept spoiling a bunch of mystery novels that I would've liked to read --> not fun
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Death, and Infidelity
sophia_dawn's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the best thriller that I have read in a while. Using a severely unreliable narrator was a great way for the author to conceal the plot twists, and there were a lot. There were some very dark themes in this book, but I liked the cyclical aspect and how everything truly connected. It was intense and crazy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Murder, Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Suicide
kimberlyswalters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read this one in one sitting. I do have some things to nitpick. I am peeved because I did want to read a certain book myself. . I did read the list of books mentioned to judge what I needed to read ASAP, what I already knew, and what I wasn't interested in. That title and spoiler appeared out of nowhere (as it's not listed as one of the eight perfect murders).
There was a slight error in one of his book descriptions too, so that was bothersome.
I really enjoyed the actual story of this book and I genuinely thought it had some good twists. I felt dread and tense at certain points. I like when a book actually makes me feel something in my chest, like something is really wrong and truly terrible. It was just the right amount of disturbing for me to still consider this a somewhat cozy mystery/thriller to lose yourself in.
[If this review sounds bonkers, it's because it's 6:08am and I need to sleep.]
Spoiler
The Murder of Roger AckroydThere was a slight error in one of his book descriptions too, so that was bothersome.
Spoiler
("Someone with a D name was the last person killed." In reference to The A.B.C Murders on page 7. That's a mistake. Someone with the wrong initials gets killed, but there was a D nearby which was thought to be the intended target, but in reality it didn't matter who they killed anymore because this killing was supposed to look sloppy.) I read that book less that 72 hours before picking this one up, so I know, unless the story was altered in my edition for some reason.I really enjoyed the actual story of this book and I genuinely thought it had some good twists. I felt dread and tense at certain points. I like when a book actually makes me feel something in my chest, like something is really wrong and truly terrible. It was just the right amount of disturbing for me to still consider this a somewhat cozy mystery/thriller to lose yourself in.
[If this review sounds bonkers, it's because it's 6:08am and I need to sleep.]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Grief, Stalking, Blood, and Rape
novi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
I enjoyed it. It's not a fast action-packed thriller, but I'd say it's a pretty cozy read because it's set in the winter time, there are a lot of talks about mystery books in it, it's also set in a book store, and it's not very suspenseful. I never really felt that the stakes were high, even after we know the villain. So yes for me it's a bit anti-climatic, but it makes a pretty cozy read (and I already watched a review that said that the villain wouldn't be satisfying, so my hopes were not high). I recommend this for mystery book lovers just for all the books discussions and homages in this book.
But let me rant a bit here:
I think it's worth repeating that this book spoils the plot of many mystery/thriller books, beside the "eight perfect murders", there were also other books that were spoiled here, so make sure to do some googling about it if you don't wanna get spoiled.
But let me rant a bit here:
Spoiler
I already guessed the killer before it was revealed because even after 70% of the book, there is still no other character introduced. There is no way the killer would be someone that wasn't introduced to the readers. There's Tessa, but she's too unlikely. Gwen was already so weird since the beginning but she's also very unlikely. And our main character was already quite sinister so I wasn't surprised when he revealed that he also killed his wife. And I didn't even care about his wife!! So when he revealed that, as if he was hoping he'd be seen as the supervillain, I was just like, "okay..."I think it's worth repeating that this book spoils the plot of many mystery/thriller books, beside the "eight perfect murders", there were also other books that were spoiled here, so make sure to do some googling about it if you don't wanna get spoiled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death
Moderate: Car accident, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
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