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chantelleatkinswriter's review against another edition
4.0
I've read most of the author's other books so I was really looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint. Greer has stayed away from her small semi-rural hometown since her older sister Eliza was murdered there as a teenager. The murder shocked everyone at the time. Both Eliza and her boyfriend Travis were shot and killed while sat in their car together. The killer was found quickly, imprisoned and eventually executed, but Greer always felt there was more to the story... When no one listened to her unease, she moved away and started a new life, however, when a copycat killing occurs in her old town, she knows she must go back. Did they catch the real killer back then? Or was he working with someone else? What I loved about this book was the many red herrings and suspicions that crept in for me as I was reading it. I was suspecting everyone of something, including Greer herself. There was one twist at the end that was expertly done. It was a fantastic reveal. However, the ending itself didn't quite do it for me. When the killer of the latest victims was revealed I just didn't fully buy it. That let it down for me just a tiny bit but everything else was perfect and I'd definitely recommend this.
suspensejunkie's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 (For now)
I think Amy Engel is a criminally underrated Mystery/Thriller writer! But this novel felt inferior to her Familiar Dark and Roanoke Girls.
This novel has a lot of well-layered characters, realistic small town vibes, and incredible twists. My main issue is with the killer's motives—it felt a bit off. The killer/crime reveal left the same taste in my mouth as Mystic River, where you're like WTF, that's why X died?? The pacing is also very slow and occasionally lacking in tension, but you keep on reading because of the nice prose and incredible characters. The last 25% goes full throttle and keeps you guessing till the very end.
I think Amy Engel is a criminally underrated Mystery/Thriller writer! But this novel felt inferior to her Familiar Dark and Roanoke Girls.
This novel has a lot of well-layered characters, realistic small town vibes, and incredible twists. My main issue is with the killer's motives—it felt a bit off. The killer/crime reveal left the same taste in my mouth as Mystic River, where you're like WTF, that's why X died?? The pacing is also very slow and occasionally lacking in tension, but you keep on reading because of the nice prose and incredible characters. The last 25% goes full throttle and keeps you guessing till the very end.
ase126's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leah_boyd's review against another edition
5.0
Ooh I really liked this one! I loved the small-town backdrop and found the characters compelling. Plenty of red herrings and twists. Definitely plan to read more by Engel.
tarahenshaw's review against another edition
2.0
Too slow and boring, wasn’t enough sleuthing for me. Didn’t get interesting until the last 40 pages, and even still I didn’t care. Not horrible, just okay. MEH is the word I would use to describe.
literaryhypewoman's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Overall engaging with some "sharp objects" vibes. The big reveal was too much exposition at once for my taste, so it felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book.
Overall engaging with some "sharp objects" vibes. The big reveal was too much exposition at once for my taste, so it felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book.
jadenbay's review against another edition
4.0
My first by this author and I liked her writing & didn’t see the twists coming. I see everyone preferred her book Familiar Dark so I’m excited to try that.
oxshilo's review against another edition
3.0
Meh.
I'm not a fan of the narrator hiding things from the readers when it's not a known unreliable narrator situation. I didn't see the ending coming, but even when it was revealed it didn't quite make sense to me.
I'm not a fan of the narrator hiding things from the readers when it's not a known unreliable narrator situation. I didn't see the ending coming, but even when it was revealed it didn't quite make sense to me.
mckensie's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you so much Amy Engel, Penguin Group Dutton, and Net Galley for this wonderful ARC!
I loved "I Did It For You" so much! It hooked me from the beginning and was an easy and addicting story.
Greer moves back from Chicago to small town Kansas after a murder takes place that was eerily similar to that of her sister, Eliza's, and her boyfriend, Travis. Back when the initial murder took place, Greer became obsessed. Although they caught the killer, Greer was convinced there was more to the story. This feeling became even stronger since the second murder took place days after the execution of the original killer. Once home, Greer begins to poke around in everyone's business to figure out what actually happens, befriends the most unexpected ally, and finds hidden secrets that might have been best left secret.
This murder mystery had a lot fun and unexpected twists. It had me guessing the entire time. While I was able to figure out a few clues, some of the others caught me off guard. Besides the thriller aspect of the book, I really enjoyed the setting and backbone of the book. I felt like it perfectly portrayed small town midwest in the fall from the seasonal details and activities to the personalities of all of the characters. No one was particularly nice or charming, but due to their close proximity, they were forced to put up with each other. The realistic aspect of that made the book that much better.
Thank you again for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I loved "I Did It For You" so much! It hooked me from the beginning and was an easy and addicting story.
Greer moves back from Chicago to small town Kansas after a murder takes place that was eerily similar to that of her sister, Eliza's, and her boyfriend, Travis. Back when the initial murder took place, Greer became obsessed. Although they caught the killer, Greer was convinced there was more to the story. This feeling became even stronger since the second murder took place days after the execution of the original killer. Once home, Greer begins to poke around in everyone's business to figure out what actually happens, befriends the most unexpected ally, and finds hidden secrets that might have been best left secret.
This murder mystery had a lot fun and unexpected twists. It had me guessing the entire time. While I was able to figure out a few clues, some of the others caught me off guard. Besides the thriller aspect of the book, I really enjoyed the setting and backbone of the book. I felt like it perfectly portrayed small town midwest in the fall from the seasonal details and activities to the personalities of all of the characters. No one was particularly nice or charming, but due to their close proximity, they were forced to put up with each other. The realistic aspect of that made the book that much better.
Thank you again for the opportunity to read this ARC.