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Reviews tagging 'Stalking'
Cold Case Academy - Ein mörderisches Spiel by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
78 reviews
ravenk28's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Sitting on the edge of my seat. This series is of to a great start.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Stalking and Abandonment
imarina's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Pretty mid, but works as a refreshing change of pace from all the big fantasy books I've been reading.
Unfortunately, suffers from teenage angst and predictable plot.
Unfortunately, suffers from teenage angst and predictable plot.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
leylaluvy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Loved this book. Kept me on my toes trying to figure out who the killer is. Plot is great and doesn’t drag on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Pregnancy
mikathereviewer'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
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Summary of my review: Nice plot twists that are not predictable (only hard), interesting characters with lots of backstory, no flat characters, perfect pacing, no plot holes, even though everything gets explained we don't get translations for foreign words/sentences, the ending was a let down
‘When you changed one assumption, you changed everything.’
- Cassie
There is foreshadowing of plot twists but very very subtle. You have to read between the lines to actually get them before the plot twist reveal. Which I looove. I hate books that are so obvious with their plot twists, I mean the last foreshadowing of Lia for the first plot twist kinda got me, but it was good nevertheless! And really you have to think. It's not like the typical story you read on autopilot and still get the plot twist 'cause it was way too obvious. These plot twists are fresh!
The last plot twist was so crazy. It was like a double plot twist. And the first one I got it, but the second one? I was close but couldn't decide between two characters but they were alike so guess I theoretically also solved this one before we got the plot twist? But seriously this book deserves to be called; Having a shocking plot twist. As it was (at least for me) not that obvious as most books would do and it was more fun guessing. The plot twists are so cool!!
The whole story was facinating we also have no plot holes and everything gets explained (unless these French words which is a bit annoying). We also get explanations for the conclusion of each chatacters when they investigate. Everything made perfect sense, no stupid decions made by characters and it just felt so good. Good to read something like this in a while. We also had no flat characters and got LOTS of backstory. They are all so interesting and their quirks too (especially Sloan's!).
Lia is actually a useless natural 'cause detecting lies is not always possible. Especially with psychopaths. They have way higher dopamine levels in their brain and they lack any emotions or feelings that can hint/detect a lie. A lie detector is actually only an anxiety detector as people tend to get nervous when they lie as they are afraid to get caught lying. Psychopaths have a smaller amygdala, which is responsible for fear and anxiety and a reduced connections between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which is responsible for guilt, empathy, etc. Lia is supposed to detect lies from any individual which isn't possible as she can't detect any fear, facial expression changes, et cetera in a psychopath as they show NO remorse and NO fear. So if she is supposed to do it for a psychopath which also have a higher chance of murdering and even becoming serial killers, she would be quite useless.
The whole love triangle was so hard to read. Don't get me wrong, love triangles are actually one of my favourite tropes, BUT Michael just seemed so off and I just didn't like how he kinda played with Cassie's feelings.
I also was a bit annoyed by the fact that we got French and Italian words and even whole sentences but never a translation. That frustrated me a lot, for a book that explaines so much, but not this.
The ending was definitely amazing, but it felt a bit like an actual ending. Like not a 'sequel coming soon' ending. Just an end. And that was a bit of a let down. Like what is supposed to happen in the next book?
What I think of each character in this book
Cassie (Cassandra Hobbes): You're the main character of course we like you. Also, you are smart, don't be insecure about being different!!
Michael (Townsend): I KNEW IT
Dean (Redding): You are soo interesting. Love your backstory!
Lia: You give me mixed feelings
Sloan: You deserve more screen time honestly. We barely see you and you sound interesting to!! (Oh and stop drinking coffee you go nuts girl)
Judd Hawkins: You are such a mood hahahfgahsya
Agent (Tanner) Briggs: Without you we wouldn't have this story. Thank you for kidnapping Cassie 🤭
Director Sterling: Without you we wouldn't even had the sketch of this book. Thank you
Agent Locke: Love how you always win the arguments with Agent Briggs
Lorelai: I know you are the real villain in this story. ADMIT IT!
You: I know that's not just a mind thing. You are real.
I really had fun reading this book, I can only recommend it. Especially if you like murder mysteries as it reminded me of one strongly. It's also a series so you have more than enough story to read and perhaps fall in love with. Actually got this book recommended too, by someone who has this book as her favourite book and I can totally see why. So far not part of my 'favourite books' yet, but that might change.
20. July 2024
‘When you changed one assumption, you changed everything.’
- Cassie
There is foreshadowing of plot twists but very very subtle. You have to read between the lines to actually get them before the plot twist reveal. Which I looove. I hate books that are so obvious with their plot twists, I mean the last foreshadowing of Lia for the first plot twist kinda got me, but it was good nevertheless! And really you have to think. It's not like the typical story you read on autopilot and still get the plot twist 'cause it was way too obvious. These plot twists are fresh!
The last plot twist was so crazy. It was like a double plot twist. And the first one I got it, but the second one? I was close but couldn't decide between two characters but they were alike so guess I theoretically also solved this one before we got the plot twist? But seriously this book deserves to be called; Having a shocking plot twist. As it was (at least for me) not that obvious as most books would do and it was more fun guessing. The plot twists are so cool!!
The whole story was facinating we also have no plot holes and everything gets explained (unless these French words which is a bit annoying). We also get explanations for the conclusion of each chatacters when they investigate. Everything made perfect sense, no stupid decions made by characters and it just felt so good. Good to read something like this in a while. We also had no flat characters and got LOTS of backstory. They are all so interesting and their quirks too (especially Sloan's!).
Lia is actually a useless natural 'cause detecting lies is not always possible. Especially with psychopaths. They have way higher dopamine levels in their brain and they lack any emotions or feelings that can hint/detect a lie. A lie detector is actually only an anxiety detector as people tend to get nervous when they lie as they are afraid to get caught lying. Psychopaths have a smaller amygdala, which is responsible for fear and anxiety and a reduced connections between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which is responsible for guilt, empathy, etc. Lia is supposed to detect lies from any individual which isn't possible as she can't detect any fear, facial expression changes, et cetera in a psychopath as they show NO remorse and NO fear. So if she is supposed to do it for a psychopath which also have a higher chance of murdering and even becoming serial killers, she would be quite useless.
The whole love triangle was so hard to read. Don't get me wrong, love triangles are actually one of my favourite tropes, BUT Michael just seemed so off and I just didn't like how he kinda played with Cassie's feelings.
I also was a bit annoyed by the fact that we got French and Italian words and even whole sentences but never a translation. That frustrated me a lot, for a book that explaines so much, but not this.
The ending was definitely amazing, but it felt a bit like an actual ending. Like not a 'sequel coming soon' ending. Just an end. And that was a bit of a let down. Like what is supposed to happen in the next book?
What I think of each character in this book
Cassie (Cassandra Hobbes): You're the main character of course we like you. Also, you are smart, don't be insecure about being different!!
Michael (Townsend): I KNEW IT
Dean (Redding): You are soo interesting. Love your backstory!
Lia: You give me mixed feelings
Sloan: You deserve more screen time honestly. We barely see you and you sound interesting to!! (Oh and stop drinking coffee you go nuts girl)
Judd Hawkins: You are such a mood hahahfgahsya
Agent (Tanner) Briggs: Without you we wouldn't have this story. Thank you for kidnapping Cassie 🤭
Director Sterling: Without you we wouldn't even had the sketch of this book. Thank you
Agent Locke: Love how you always win the arguments with Agent Briggs
Lorelai: I know you are the real villain in this story. ADMIT IT!
You: I know that's not just a mind thing. You are real.
I really had fun reading this book, I can only recommend it. Especially if you like murder mysteries as it reminded me of one strongly. It's also a series so you have more than enough story to read and perhaps fall in love with. Actually got this book recommended too, by someone who has this book as her favourite book and I can totally see why. So far not part of my 'favourite books' yet, but that might change.
20. July 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
zalikawashere's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
lcp_08's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
huddlestonmaeg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.5
Super cute book!!! Very youth adult writing and a lot of criminal psychology which I loveeee! It was super easy to read and the characters were super lovable. There wasn’t a lot of writing spent on world building (not a fantasy just a thriller with slight romance) but somehow it also did not dive deep enough into getting to know the characters like I wanted so I’m super excited for the rest of the series. So sad I didn’t read it as soon as I bought it either lol. A plot twist some might see coming but also not see coming whatsoever. (SMALL SPOILER) like I knew someone close to her is going to be the murderer and leaving her the boxes, but I really didn’t think it’d also be a family member!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Stalking
abbiebonnyman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
teodoraflorentinaa's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This book made me forget I was reading. It almost felt like I am there, living every moment. I didn't realize that I already finished it (so glad it has more volumes).
The plot, the characters, the writing style. Everything was perfect.
The way that the author described all of their minds (especially Cassie and Dean) and how the characters are built is something I have never read so far. I am really looking forward to continuing this series (even though the open ending kills me).
P.S. I don't recommend reading this book if you hate open endings because "The Naturals" will do anything but tell you what it happened and how it happened and who did what.
The plot, the characters, the writing style. Everything was perfect.
The way that the author described all of their minds (especially Cassie and Dean) and how the characters are built is something I have never read so far. I am really looking forward to continuing this series (even though the open ending kills me).
P.S. I don't recommend reading this book if you hate open endings because "The Naturals" will do anything but tell you what it happened and how it happened and who did what.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence