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readingtotravel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The book had a slow start and I felt like there was an overuse of similes in the beginning. However, it picked up by page 60, and from then on, Alexandra Benedict was IN HER BAG.
The mystery and story were well written and plotted out, and I love that there were games for the readers to okay along with.
I do wish we got a short epilogue or time jump to see what Lily did with Endgame and what became of the family that was left. I also wish we got to delve into the Mom's murder more at the end. We did get the why but the why felt kind if surface level.
The mystery and story were well written and plotted out, and I love that there were games for the readers to okay along with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexual content
cassie7e's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Confinement, Death, Incest, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
sophiepearson's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was fine. It was a fun concept and I enjoyed reading it as I wanted something festive. However, the characters were quite 2D and I felt it was a little obvious about halfway through who the culprit was. Some of the emotional responses to the murder of family members was weird - everyone just carried on as normal the next day. Also, incest that never got called out?? A bit messed up.. But if you can get past some of this and are looking for a light-hearted non-serious festive crime novel, this will do the trick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Incest, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
larareads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Biphobia
leah08855's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm
camillarossi's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
apalershadeofwhite's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
(Note: take a shot every time I used the word 'sometimes' lmao.)
Overall, this book was so freaking good! I loved the premise, the characters, the execution... but there was one thing that didn't make this a 5-star read which is pretty petty of me, to be honest, but I think it's still valid lmao.
There were some really stunning sentences, metaphors, and similes throughout this entire book. Absolutely beautiful. I did sometimes feel like there were too many in a small space, though. Some of them felt a bit forced and included to try and be beautiful and thought-provoking, but sometimes simplicity is more telling. For example, on one page there were three similes/metaphors all of birds. They were each individually pretty, but there were so many in such a condensed space that it sometimes felt unneeded, unnecessary, etc. Some of the sentences didn't even need a linguistic technique and would have been just as good without them. A specific example being: the sentence "[a]n image of her mum making pastry for mince pies smacks into Lily's head like a robin into a plate glass". In my opinion, you don't need the simile; the word 'smack' is evocative and symbolic enough to insinuate painful or unwanted memories. Also, all of the metaphors and similes were Christmas or winter themed. Kudos to the dedication, but sometimes they didn't make as much sense as they could have if they weren't constrained to a theme.
Regarding characters, I loved Ronnie! He was the cause for a lot of the humour within the novel, which I think was a good choice to offset the darkness of the murder and death lol. I also loved Mrs Castle for her biting nature because she just did not give a shit, which also made for some funny lines.
The author is so good, based on this book, and I will probably read more of their stuff.
(POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD)
When it came to the plot twist (which in a sucker for), the hints were perfectly placed. I started to get suspicious of Tom because he was very attached physically to Lily while also constantly verbalising how emotionally attached to her he was. It happened so much that it started to feel like a diversion, but he was also the first who was attacked and did not succumb to his injuries, which was interesting. The other plot twist, about Sara and Tom made me a bit uncomfortable though, but it is DEFINITELY shocking and a twist, so I guess it works lol.
Overall, this book was so freaking good! I loved the premise, the characters, the execution... but there was one thing that didn't make this a 5-star read which is pretty petty of me, to be honest, but I think it's still valid lmao.
There were some really stunning sentences, metaphors, and similes throughout this entire book. Absolutely beautiful. I did sometimes feel like there were too many in a small space, though. Some of them felt a bit forced and included to try and be beautiful and thought-provoking, but sometimes simplicity is more telling. For example, on one page there were three similes/metaphors all of birds. They were each individually pretty, but there were so many in such a condensed space that it sometimes felt unneeded, unnecessary, etc. Some of the sentences didn't even need a linguistic technique and would have been just as good without them. A specific example being: the sentence "[a]n image of her mum making pastry for mince pies smacks into Lily's head like a robin into a plate glass". In my opinion, you don't need the simile; the word 'smack' is evocative and symbolic enough to insinuate painful or unwanted memories. Also, all of the metaphors and similes were Christmas or winter themed. Kudos to the dedication, but sometimes they didn't make as much sense as they could have if they weren't constrained to a theme.
Regarding characters, I loved Ronnie! He was the cause for a lot of the humour within the novel, which I think was a good choice to offset the darkness of the murder and death lol. I also loved Mrs Castle for her biting nature because she just did not give a shit, which also made for some funny lines.
The author is so good, based on this book, and I will probably read more of their stuff.
(POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD)
When it came to the plot twist (which in a sucker for), the hints were perfectly placed. I started to get suspicious of Tom because he was very attached physically to Lily while also constantly verbalising how emotionally attached to her he was. It happened so much that it started to feel like a diversion, but he was also the first who was attacked and did not succumb to his injuries, which was interesting. The other plot twist, about Sara and Tom made me a bit uncomfortable though, but it is DEFINITELY shocking and a twist, so I guess it works lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Confinement, and Homophobia
lydias1's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
1.5
I don’t like present tense writing :(
I couldn’t place the tone. It was an odd combination of intelligent and precise metaphors (albeit they were excessively used), and rather obvious and unclever ways of revealing plot information (“remember when you found your dead mum in the centre of the maze?”).
The characters were rather flat.
The pace was odd, because it was so drawn out over 12 days. 12 clues, except they were all the same - fancy sonnets that the reader had no chance of solving so it was pointless to try.
Overall, the plot is just bizarre and I finished the book out of spite. Wouldn’t recommened. A bonus star given because it had good bisexual representation which was nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Incest, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident
dutchessofbooks's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.25
It was okay. Lots of typos though (like you're/your mistakes - very sloppy). I liked the premise, but then when everyone started dying and everyone else pretty much ignored it, is where the author lost me. Like, Lily lost most of her cousins, then asks her old beau out?? Who even does that?! Anyone would be severely traumatized. So although the puzzle of it all was fun enough, the characters were a little too flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence and Murder