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sparkles_f's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ 3%. It was a slough to get through the narrative and I just I didn't care--I wasn't drawn in by the world building or the characters.
annadixon76's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rileyephillips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
elisebrewer's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounding up to 4. This was so LONG. Too long- probably a good 150-200 pages could have been cut. I love all of Kate Morton's books, but after reading them all, they're getting a bit predictable. Still, really enjoyable read.
abernathy_33's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death, Infertility, and War
kimreadz's review against another edition
2.0
This was not a good read for me. I'm rating it 2½ stars. The story itself wasn't terrible; if the book would have been 350 pages instead of almost 550 pages, I may have rated it as high as 4 stars. However, the book was too.too.long. I felt like I was a third of the way into the book before the story really got started, and I was frequently ready to give up on it. Only the fact that it was a book club selection kept me reading. My main thought when I got to the end was 'Thank god THAT is over!" There was far too much 'descriptive language'. I really didn't need all those paragraphs of description of the Australian wilderness!
Ironically, once I did finish, in addition to relief that I was done, I also felt incomplete. There was too much left unanswered. This book could have done with a nice epilogue telling us what happened in the future—but it didn't need more pages!
Overall, the characters were pretty unlikeable. Everyone had secrets, and once we learned their secret, I lost any affinity I'd had toward the character. There are twists and a lot of red herrings, but some of it was easy to predict. I kind of guessed the main twist, but had to read to find out how it was accomplished.
Our book club ratings were all over the place. The ratings were as high as 5 stars and as low as 2½ stars, giving us an average of about 3.75-4. Much as I disliked this book, I do have to admit, it made for a lively discussion. I won't recommend it to go on your TBR list, but if you have a group that you can discuss it with, and who are willing to slog through to the end, this book is worth adding to your schedule.
Ironically, once I did finish, in addition to relief that I was done, I also felt incomplete. There was too much left unanswered. This book could have done with a nice epilogue telling us what happened in the future—but it didn't need more pages!
Overall, the characters were pretty unlikeable. Everyone had secrets, and once we learned their secret, I lost any affinity I'd had toward the character. There are twists and a lot of red herrings, but some of it was easy to predict. I kind of guessed the main twist, but had to read to find out how it was accomplished.
Our book club ratings were all over the place. The ratings were as high as 5 stars and as low as 2½ stars, giving us an average of about 3.75-4. Much as I disliked this book, I do have to admit, it made for a lively discussion. I won't recommend it to go on your TBR list, but if you have a group that you can discuss it with, and who are willing to slog through to the end, this book is worth adding to your schedule.
amyapple's review
2.0
Was there a minimum word count that the author needed to achieve? Why did we need the middle 400 pages?
The book starts off flipping back and forth and I was intrigue when we find the dead people. Then it’s all pittered out to a long drawn narrative that doesn’t seem to move (except for Jess physically moving while she reads books she finds) and only giving the most minute bits of info that carries the story on.
The pacing is dead slow and then the last 100 pages remind you of what you were here for. And yes, I didn’t predict it… so yes it was interesting … BUT did I care anymore? Probably not.
Nora was manipulative at best but we don’t delved into her POV and instead we get a half baked account from Polly. Jess stays in her bubble and really is not much wiser by the end either.
Even if the book didn’t sell itself as a mystery crime fiction, and went for mother/daughter relationship - it would have still failed for me.
The slog was not worth it.
The book starts off flipping back and forth and I was intrigue when we find the dead people. Then it’s all pittered out to a long drawn narrative that doesn’t seem to move (except for Jess physically moving while she reads books she finds) and only giving the most minute bits of info that carries the story on.
The pacing is dead slow and then the last 100 pages remind you of what you were here for. And yes, I didn’t predict it… so yes it was interesting … BUT did I care anymore? Probably not.
Nora was manipulative at best but we don’t delved into her POV and instead we get a half baked account from Polly. Jess stays in her bubble and really is not much wiser by the end either.
Even if the book didn’t sell itself as a mystery crime fiction, and went for mother/daughter relationship - it would have still failed for me.
The slog was not worth it.
authorjuliankennedy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5