girlwiththepinkskimask's review against another edition
4.0
Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 3.5/5 | Ending: OTT/5
SYNOPSIS
Jason Jones' wife is missing, making him suspect #1... along with the convicted and registered sex offender just down the street. Where did Sandra go, and who is to blame? And what's up with this neighbourhood?
MY OPINION
WOAH NELLYYYYY that was a wild ass ride. Is this rating generous based on that OTT final act? PEUT ETRE (MAYBE). BUT the writing was so strong, so on point, so suspenseful, I couldn't give it anything less than a four.
This is an old Gardner, we're talking 2009 when Facebook was in its infancy and I wore 3/4 black leggings under my jean skirts #SWAG. But it aged well-ish. I mean a 30 yr old shacking up with a pregnant teen is always questionable, but in this case the motive is clear... and less icky.
Here we have the traditional domestic thriller trope with a handful of twisty twists. You kinda know wassup with Jason... but it keeps you guessing. The plot was thicc af. I loved Sandra's POV. TBH the pedo's POV was gratuitous and unnecessary, but I'm a sicko so yes, I wanted to know how his mind ticked. I could've done without the "both sides of the fences" perspective of sex offenders. I really just don't care how hard a pedophile's life is. I'm too busy thinking about how mentally, physically, and emotionally scarred for life their victim(s) are.
OK let me get my ass back on track instead of giving a Ted Talk. Although this is a police procedural, we spend a considerable amount of time with the suspects and victim, which I loved. This was a great character study and my heart goes out to Jason. YES it is moi, showing sympathy and empathy toward a MAN. Your eyes have not betrayed you.
This book was good. Period. It was entertaining, it made me want to pick up another Gardner expeditiously. Trigger warnings: all of them.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: FANTASTIC writing, great pace, well-written characters, entertainment value through the roof
Cons: tryna make me feel bad for pedos, keep that lmao. ending was outrageously OTT
SYNOPSIS
Jason Jones' wife is missing, making him suspect #1... along with the convicted and registered sex offender just down the street. Where did Sandra go, and who is to blame? And what's up with this neighbourhood?
MY OPINION
WOAH NELLYYYYY that was a wild ass ride. Is this rating generous based on that OTT final act? PEUT ETRE (MAYBE). BUT the writing was so strong, so on point, so suspenseful, I couldn't give it anything less than a four.
This is an old Gardner, we're talking 2009 when Facebook was in its infancy and I wore 3/4 black leggings under my jean skirts #SWAG. But it aged well-ish. I mean a 30 yr old shacking up with a pregnant teen is always questionable, but in this case the motive is clear... and less icky.
Here we have the traditional domestic thriller trope with a handful of twisty twists. You kinda know wassup with Jason... but it keeps you guessing. The plot was thicc af. I loved Sandra's POV. TBH the pedo's POV was gratuitous and unnecessary, but I'm a sicko so yes, I wanted to know how his mind ticked. I could've done without the "both sides of the fences" perspective of sex offenders. I really just don't care how hard a pedophile's life is. I'm too busy thinking about how mentally, physically, and emotionally scarred for life their victim(s) are.
OK let me get my ass back on track instead of giving a Ted Talk. Although this is a police procedural, we spend a considerable amount of time with the suspects and victim, which I loved. This was a great character study and my heart goes out to Jason. YES it is moi, showing sympathy and empathy toward a MAN. Your eyes have not betrayed you.
This book was good. Period. It was entertaining, it made me want to pick up another Gardner expeditiously. Trigger warnings: all of them.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: FANTASTIC writing, great pace, well-written characters, entertainment value through the roof
Cons: tryna make me feel bad for pedos, keep that lmao. ending was outrageously OTT
alexblackreads's review against another edition
3.0
One of my favorite characters in this was the sex offender, which was really interesting to me. Not saying I liked him as a person, but he was a really well written character with interesting motivations. His story drove the book for me. Everything else was okay and honestly I would have preferred for him to be even more central to the story, but without him I think the book fell a little flat. The best thing I can say about it is that it was okay and it didn't really stick with me too much.
shai3d's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable listen though it didn't have me on edge of my seat. I am glad that I kept at though as the ending is all worth it.
cleg_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
bookworm_enni's review against another edition
5.0
This series keeps getting better and better. I had such a hard time putting this one down. Awesome read!!
hooksbookswanderlust's review against another edition
3.0
Follows a similar story as Gone Girl, beautiful seemingly normal couple, wife disappears, husband is awkward and socially stunted making him look guilty as hell. But where Gone Girl showed the wife's above average intelligence as she masterminded everything, in The Neighbor, Sandy just appears to have flown by the seat of her pants.
What I liked:
There were definitely some twists and turns, and the occasional red herring or three, making this a very compelling read, but what did it for me was watching Jason dig himself a deeper hole even as he tried to figure out what happened to his wife, because it is evident from the parts in his perspective that he didn't do it. And it was extremely consuming because the author hooks you early with the dangled carrots of Jason's secret, Sandra's secret, and what happened during their February vacation? So you just have to keep flipping pages to find out. I liked the varying points of view and how each was told in different person...ie Sandra was first person flashback like a diary narrative, and Jason was third person and Aiden was first person present. And I liked how the mystery of Jason and Sandra's past came full circle.
What I didn't like:
I felt like the comment in Jason's perspective about why Sandra would have done it, why go to such an extreme, never really got answered. And while I understand why Sgt Warren couldn't arrest anyone, I still felt frustrated, just like she did. And also, I kind of felt like Wayne was a convenient fall guy for the author. There was no foreshadowing in his character that he would be capable of doing what Sandra accused, which kept me waiting for the 'real' story. But since we never got one, we are forced to accept this version of events. (It's always the quiet ones). But since we knew from the beginning it wasn't Aiden or Jason, who else could it have been? And also, did I miss something because Sandra alluded to Ethan knowing about her Wednesday night activities, and Ethan even commented that he knew more about Sandra now than he really wanted. So what was it? And what did he do with the computer?
While I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, the ending had too many inconsistencies and unanswered questions to rate this as high as Gone Girl, though I didn't much care for the ending of that one either.
What I liked:
There were definitely some twists and turns, and the occasional red herring or three, making this a very compelling read, but what did it for me was watching Jason dig himself a deeper hole even as he tried to figure out what happened to his wife, because it is evident from the parts in his perspective that he didn't do it. And it was extremely consuming because the author hooks you early with the dangled carrots of Jason's secret, Sandra's secret, and what happened during their February vacation? So you just have to keep flipping pages to find out. I liked the varying points of view and how each was told in different person...ie Sandra was first person flashback like a diary narrative, and Jason was third person and Aiden was first person present. And I liked how the mystery of Jason and Sandra's past came full circle.
What I didn't like:
I felt like the comment in Jason's perspective about why Sandra would have done it, why go to such an extreme, never really got answered. And while I understand why Sgt Warren couldn't arrest anyone, I still felt frustrated, just like she did. And also, I kind of felt like Wayne was a convenient fall guy for the author. There was no foreshadowing in his character that he would be capable of doing what Sandra accused, which kept me waiting for the 'real' story. But since we never got one, we are forced to accept this version of events. (It's always the quiet ones). But since we knew from the beginning it wasn't Aiden or Jason, who else could it have been? And also, did I miss something because Sandra alluded to Ethan knowing about her Wednesday night activities, and Ethan even commented that he knew more about Sandra now than he really wanted. So what was it? And what did he do with the computer?
While I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, the ending had too many inconsistencies and unanswered questions to rate this as high as Gone Girl, though I didn't much care for the ending of that one either.
tab2004's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the first couple of Lisa Gardner books I read but lately I am starting to find them trying too hard to be clever instead of coherent. I figured out what was wrong with the husband less than half-way in. The question I had was why could'nt the wife? This is supposedly an intelligent woman, a teacher, yet she can't figure out why her husband won't touch her and lets her have 'spa treatments'? And of course the detective who was helping her becomes obsessed with her.
I am also getting a little tired of the style in which she creates her female heriones. I can't exactly put my finger on why but most of the time they just end up annoying me. I can't seem to care about their situation and that does not bode well for the book.
That said I do like her writing style and she tries to give the characters some depth but I am just finding it wanting or maybe I am expecting too much.
I am also getting a little tired of the style in which she creates her female heriones. I can't exactly put my finger on why but most of the time they just end up annoying me. I can't seem to care about their situation and that does not bode well for the book.
That said I do like her writing style and she tries to give the characters some depth but I am just finding it wanting or maybe I am expecting too much.
reag17's review against another edition
4.0
Again, just like the previous book, I really enjoy the mystery in this story, yet I have continued to dislike the lead detective DD Warren. She comes across as one who is apathetic and is more concerned with making the news then finding the right person guilty. I will continue to read the series with hopes that Bobby Dodge returns. He was missed in this third novel.
lipsticktoliterature's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 3rd book in the series and my favorite so far. You don't need to read them in order. Winning!! But, I always suggest reading a series consecutively. I listened to the audiobook and it was great!!
princessdeleon's review against another edition
5.0
this was even better for me as I just finished say goodbye. I was hoping the whole time it wasn't Jason since I knew him as a kid from SG. I was super bummed about one of the casualties though.