The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
jewelkr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
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If I havenāt mentioned it before, I have a hard time reading fiction.Ā
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Because I belonged to too many writersā groups, where we sat around and critiqued each otherās writing.Ā So while I can tolerate bad writing or bad editing in non-fiction because Iām only reading it for the information, I canāt tolerate it in fiction.Ā Because Iām reading fiction for enjoyment and if bad writing or editing shows up Iām critiquing, not enjoying.Ā
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This book wasnāt bad.Ā I picked it up from a Little Library because a) it had a British pound price sticker on it, and Iām a snob and b) the author Ann Cleeves wrote the Shetland tv series which I have enjoyed in the past, although Jimmy Perez seems to phoning it in, in Season 5 and is not just taciturn, heās downright a grumpy old man.Ā
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Itās a dark story whose back cover promises āterrifying secretsā.Ā There are two murders, which is not so much terrifying as the requirement of this sort of book, and the main character is constantly sneaking around on other peopleās properties which I find too stressful ā Iām not good with undercover plots.Ā Itās very readable and the plot moves along at a good speed with enough daily business to allow the reader to recover from the nefariousness of it all.Ā The main characterās inner dialogue is helpful to the plotline and I did relate to her, although I could have done with more of her backstory. Ā
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The "terrifyingā end is kind of anticlimactic, after all the murder theories, the possible arrests, the cloak-and-dagger of an out-of-work social worker and the loss of two young lives.Ā I didnāt like all the theories floated and one of the main criminals, a man who assaulted a 16 year old, isnāt even part of the law and order scoop that happens; this part of the story just evaporates.Ā
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I guess this is how most who-dun-its are, which is why they are not high on my reading list.Ā Overall it was an OK experience to read this book and Iām OK with passing it back to the Little Library for someone else. Ā
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Rape, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Stalking, Infidelity, and Murder
kazofbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An earlier work of Ann Cleeves which is unlike anything else she has written. This story focuses on Lizzie who is taken on a whirlwind ride in the search for the truth with an unexpected ending.Ā
Graphic: Car accident, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, Classism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic friendship, Death, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
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