kriszuk's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
abgraver97's review against another edition
3.0
- I'm not quite sure why I continued reading or if I 'liked' this
- The drama kept me interested even though it was so fair fetched
- INCEST VIBES?? too many incest vibes for me just was weird...
- But props to Swanson he did hook me in
- The drama kept me interested even though it was so fair fetched
- INCEST VIBES?? too many incest vibes for me just was weird...
- But props to Swanson he did hook me in
lulu_turner's review against another edition
3.0
i read this book in 4 hours. to put it simply it was underwhelming and easily forgettable. if you’re into predictable story lines that try too hard to not be predictable and step parent/ step child relationships then this is for you.
vstewart76's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
justkeyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Wow, the amount of grooming, under age relationships that string together the characters in this book in almost unreal. Let's just add in obsession, revenge and murder and you have a pot of chaos and boundaries crossed. There were so many I dropped my mouth opened when the twists were revealed though I figured it out earlier, because I mean really? It was almost to the point of being uncomfortable, but there was also murder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
trinad's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kbranfield's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson is a suspenseful mystery that features a few taboo relationships.
Harry Ackerson is days away from his college graduation when his stepmother, Alice, phones with the distressing news that his father has died. He rushes home to help plan the funeral where he quickly learns his father's death might not have been an accident. Catching sight of a stranger at his father's funeral, Harry cannot help but wonder what connection the lovely young woman might have to his father. It turns out Grace McGowan knew his dad through his bookstore, but Harry wonders if there might be more to their relationship than she is revealing. Before he can uncover the truth, Alice points the police in the direction of another employee at her husband's bookstore, but Harry is not quite convinced her accusation holds merit. Before long, another person is murdered, Harry grows uncomfortable with Alice's attention and he cannot help but wonder if he knows anyone as well as he thinks.
Harry is not overly sophisticated, a bit naive and he is quickly in over his head where his stepmother is concerned. After his father and Alice married, he was uncomfortable with his inappropriate sexual awareness of his new stepmother and he has spent little time in her company in the years since he left for college. Staying with her at his father's house, Harry tries to stay out of her way but Alice does everything she can to engineer time together. As he grows more certain his father might have been murdered, Grace casts suspicion on Alice but Harry harbors doubt she was involved.
Flashbacks to Alice's teen years do not exactly paint her in a flattering light. Her father was never in her life and her mother was an alcoholic who did not marry Alice's stepfather Jake Richter until her daughter was in her late teens. Alice makes her own luck and she is somewhat ruthless when crossed. She follows her heart even though there are few people who would condone her relationship with the man she chooses.
All the Beautiful Lies is an intriguing mystery with a slow moving storyline, unappealing characters and shudder inducing relationships. Set on the Maine coast, the setting is beautifully rendered and springs vibrantly to life through Peter Swanson's descriptive prose. The investigation into the death of Harry's father is interesting and the perpetrator's identity is cleverly concealed until the novel's twist-filled conclusion.
All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson is a suspenseful mystery that features a few taboo relationships.
Harry Ackerson is days away from his college graduation when his stepmother, Alice, phones with the distressing news that his father has died. He rushes home to help plan the funeral where he quickly learns his father's death might not have been an accident. Catching sight of a stranger at his father's funeral, Harry cannot help but wonder what connection the lovely young woman might have to his father. It turns out Grace McGowan knew his dad through his bookstore, but Harry wonders if there might be more to their relationship than she is revealing. Before he can uncover the truth, Alice points the police in the direction of another employee at her husband's bookstore, but Harry is not quite convinced her accusation holds merit. Before long, another person is murdered, Harry grows uncomfortable with Alice's attention and he cannot help but wonder if he knows anyone as well as he thinks.
Harry is not overly sophisticated, a bit naive and he is quickly in over his head where his stepmother is concerned. After his father and Alice married, he was uncomfortable with his inappropriate sexual awareness of his new stepmother and he has spent little time in her company in the years since he left for college. Staying with her at his father's house, Harry tries to stay out of her way but Alice does everything she can to engineer time together. As he grows more certain his father might have been murdered, Grace casts suspicion on Alice but Harry harbors doubt she was involved.
Flashbacks to Alice's teen years do not exactly paint her in a flattering light. Her father was never in her life and her mother was an alcoholic who did not marry Alice's stepfather Jake Richter until her daughter was in her late teens. Alice makes her own luck and she is somewhat ruthless when crossed. She follows her heart even though there are few people who would condone her relationship with the man she chooses.
All the Beautiful Lies is an intriguing mystery with a slow moving storyline, unappealing characters and shudder inducing relationships. Set on the Maine coast, the setting is beautifully rendered and springs vibrantly to life through Peter Swanson's descriptive prose. The investigation into the death of Harry's father is interesting and the perpetrator's identity is cleverly concealed until the novel's twist-filled conclusion.