scott_thelibrarian's review
4.0
4.5 Stars
This book was very good. A very refreshing and new take on a psychological thriller. My only issue is I feel like it was a little too long, which is why I gave it 4.5 stars.
This book was very good. A very refreshing and new take on a psychological thriller. My only issue is I feel like it was a little too long, which is why I gave it 4.5 stars.
marcccb's review
3.0
I read Ellison’s first novel, Lie to Me and I have to say I enjoyed that one a little more than this one. They’re both very well written, but also very different.
This one served more of a drama to me rather than a mystery. Although it did have its twists, the drama aspect shone a lot more than the mystery aspect. This is not a bad thing, however I did expect a little more thrilling moments.
The book was very enjoyable to read. Juliet was my favourite character. She’s a woman who doesn’t give up and to me, I think she was the protagonist of the story. Once again a female protagonist. I love it.
It’s no secret that Ellison is a talented writer. I think that in this novel, Ellison wanted to showcase family drama and secrets rather than plot twists. I did enjoy the story line though. The plot was very well thought out and it played out very well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This one served more of a drama to me rather than a mystery. Although it did have its twists, the drama aspect shone a lot more than the mystery aspect. This is not a bad thing, however I did expect a little more thrilling moments.
The book was very enjoyable to read. Juliet was my favourite character. She’s a woman who doesn’t give up and to me, I think she was the protagonist of the story. Once again a female protagonist. I love it.
It’s no secret that Ellison is a talented writer. I think that in this novel, Ellison wanted to showcase family drama and secrets rather than plot twists. I did enjoy the story line though. The plot was very well thought out and it played out very well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
ranjkrish88's review
dark
emotional
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? No
3.75
illidia316's review
5.0
Holy cow. This book is absolutely fabulous. It’s my favorite book by this author to date. The suspense is intense, the characters are all so amazing, and the twists are so - twisty. If I could give this more than 5 stars, I definitely would.
alibi313's review against another edition
2.0
The solution to the “mystery” was telegraphed before the halfway point, but I kept reading, hoping there’d be a twist. (Nope!) Only surprise was that the murderer is even WORSE than anticipated and gets even LESS justice than deserved, so it had a wholly unsatisfying ending.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison is a suspense-laden mystery that is quite riveting from beginning to end.
Seventeen year old Mindy Wright is poised to be selected for the US Olympic Ski Team when a crash leads to a possibly career ending injury. Although the subsequent surgery on her broken leg is a success, her pre-surgical tests reveal she has a particularly virulent type of leukemia. When traditional treatment is unsuccessful, the only thing that might save her is a stem cell transplant. Her parents, Lauren and Jasper, and her aunt Juliet are quickly tested to see if they are a match. However, Juliet, a blood-lab technician for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, sneaks a peak at the results and she is rocked by the discovery Mindy is not genetically linked to either her parents or her aunt. A confrontation with Lauren leads to the first of many shocking revelations but what Juliet uncovers next could result in deadly consequences as a cornered killer tries to protect everything they hold dear.
Mindy is a surprisingly well-adjusted and composed young woman whose hard work and dedication to her ski career is about to pay off. Lauren and Jasper are incredibly supportive of her burgeoning career and they spare no expense when it comes to her sport. Jasper is a lawyer and Lauren is an artist whose sales help boost the family's finances. Lauren also homeschools Mindy and while she is a bit of a helicopter mom, no one questions her devotion to her daughter.
Juliet is much younger than Lauren and the two have never been close. In fact, their relationship is rather prickly due to Lauren's somewhat antagonistic attitude towards her. Juliet is close to Mindy and she will do anything to save her after her diagnosis. In fact, she is willing to risk her career to try to find a donor for her niece. But Juliet has no idea that in trying to save Mindy's life, she will expose an absolutely staggering secret that no one could have possibly foreseen.
Interspersed with the events in the present are flashbacks of two teenage girls who form an unlikely friendship that lasts for years. Even after they are separated, they continue to exchange letters that detail how their lives are progressing. An alarming portrait begins to emerge but the complete truth about what happens between them is not revealed until the novel's chilling conclusion.
Tear Me Apart is a meticulously plotted and tension-filled mystery. The characters are brilliantly developed with all too human frailties and relatable strengths. The storyline is engrossing and although some elements are a little predictable, J.T. Ellison keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the novel moves to a jaw-dropping finale. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this clever mystery to fans of the genre.
Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison is a suspense-laden mystery that is quite riveting from beginning to end.
Seventeen year old Mindy Wright is poised to be selected for the US Olympic Ski Team when a crash leads to a possibly career ending injury. Although the subsequent surgery on her broken leg is a success, her pre-surgical tests reveal she has a particularly virulent type of leukemia. When traditional treatment is unsuccessful, the only thing that might save her is a stem cell transplant. Her parents, Lauren and Jasper, and her aunt Juliet are quickly tested to see if they are a match. However, Juliet, a blood-lab technician for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, sneaks a peak at the results and she is rocked by the discovery Mindy is not genetically linked to either her parents or her aunt. A confrontation with Lauren leads to the first of many shocking revelations but what Juliet uncovers next could result in deadly consequences as a cornered killer tries to protect everything they hold dear.
Mindy is a surprisingly well-adjusted and composed young woman whose hard work and dedication to her ski career is about to pay off. Lauren and Jasper are incredibly supportive of her burgeoning career and they spare no expense when it comes to her sport. Jasper is a lawyer and Lauren is an artist whose sales help boost the family's finances. Lauren also homeschools Mindy and while she is a bit of a helicopter mom, no one questions her devotion to her daughter.
Juliet is much younger than Lauren and the two have never been close. In fact, their relationship is rather prickly due to Lauren's somewhat antagonistic attitude towards her. Juliet is close to Mindy and she will do anything to save her after her diagnosis. In fact, she is willing to risk her career to try to find a donor for her niece. But Juliet has no idea that in trying to save Mindy's life, she will expose an absolutely staggering secret that no one could have possibly foreseen.
Interspersed with the events in the present are flashbacks of two teenage girls who form an unlikely friendship that lasts for years. Even after they are separated, they continue to exchange letters that detail how their lives are progressing. An alarming portrait begins to emerge but the complete truth about what happens between them is not revealed until the novel's chilling conclusion.
Tear Me Apart is a meticulously plotted and tension-filled mystery. The characters are brilliantly developed with all too human frailties and relatable strengths. The storyline is engrossing and although some elements are a little predictable, J.T. Ellison keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the novel moves to a jaw-dropping finale. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this clever mystery to fans of the genre.
elizabethscott0's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5