Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Lay Your Body Down

Excellent second novel from Amy Suiter Clarke. Religious trauma and the darkness that lurks in megachurches is clearly a subject close to her, and I enjoyed playing amateur detective along with Del.

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lindseyisreading's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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cassidylee's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I was really pulled into the story and couldn’t wait to find out how it all unfolded. I found the twists a bit more predictable than the protagonist did, but that didn’t deter from my experience.

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booklvrkat's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-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? No

3.75

Our story starts with Delilah receiving a call that her ex has been shot in a hunting accident, losing her job, and her roommate telling her she’ll have to move because her boyfriend is moving in. Del decides that she’s going to go home for the funeral, she can take a break and maybe decide where her future lies. Everything in her hometown is not what it should be, and secrets seem to be around every corner. The story builds up to make the Messiah Church to be more of a cultish sect, and that Del was lucky to escape when she did. As more of her backstory comes out through the book, we peel back the layers of this religious community, and how phony it is.

I can’t remember where I read about this story, but I am glad I went in blindly. It’s at its core a murder mystery, with the additional topping of cultish behavior. I found myself completely engaged in Del’s upbringing and her ultimate leaving of this small town. The characters will stick with you, and I’m sure you will do a double take when things are not what you thought, even with the backup & proof that Del and her friends find.

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samseyz's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Not nearly as thrilling as I hoped it would be. I did enjoy the overarching theme of religious trauma and women standing up for themselves against men. I think it could’ve benefited from being much shorter too.

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