Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Pacjentka by Alex Michaelides

387 reviews

itshrewsbury's review against another edition

dark mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

 Not sure how I feel about this, since it’s so highly rated. No doubt, I blew through it. I HAD to know more about Alicia, the silent patient, and I suppose that’s what fuels the MC, Theo, too. And it IS an interesting read from theo’s perspective as we watch him unravel. The twist is undoubtedly Agatha Christie-ish, who Michaelides cites as a major influence on him as a writer, as well as the large cast of characters who could all potentially be in on it. But if this is a detective story, and it certainly reads as that and is admitted to be that by the author, I feel cheated a bit by the twist. I like it, it’s good, but something leaves me feeling that there’s something to be desired about this book, though I can’t quite put my finger on it. 


Edit: after reading some other reviews, I think I get what bugs me about it. Theo is the only fleshed out character and not just bc he’s the POV MC. all the others stay in their own realms, not really anything to indicate their feelings or motivations the whole time. Plus, the tension doesn’t really feel real to me; like, you’re supposed to feel tense bc Alicia has this big mystery about why she killed her husband, and the people in her life Theo talks to are said in book to feel threatening, but they just…don’t, for me as a reader at least. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

Additional TW/CW: depression, paranoia, stalking, gambling, home invasion

kristenisreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

_david_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

What a great plottwist!
It's a good modern spin on a classic Greek tragedy.

The book has some flaws which can be forgiven if you don't take it to seriously.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

celiabutterworth__'s review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse

apotero390's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

kateea7536's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A phenomenal book. One that I was very aware I was sad to be progressing so quickly through because I wanted to savour every single page. Incredibly gripping and full of twists and turns, with a writing style that was impeccable but not too dense or descriptive. Flawless, can’t fault it🤩🤩🤩

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Alcohol

unicorndesiles's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious fast-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent

vandulce's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, and Murder

2hannon's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

bruh

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

m_lena's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

I enjoyed this book. The narration was interesting and the plot  immediately drew me in. I enjoyed the focus on psychotherapy and was intrigued with the psychological interpretations. I started The Maidens right after this and I enjoyed the concurrent connections with the content and characters. This is a well written mystery, which is also like a dark, emotional, psychological mystery. A great combo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Gaslighting