Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

14 reviews

bookcheshirecat's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Sexism, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide

lifeishardbacks's review against another edition

3.5

This is a great not-so-scary read to start off your spooky season. It's a ghost story with a lot going on. It's based in the 1920s post WWI. Sarah is a girl who gets thrown into the world of paranormal activity when her temporary agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. 

Maddy's story is absolutely heartbreaking. Her vengeful spirit seems mild when compared to things the she endured.

This story has a lot of components most ghost stories do not. There is quite a bit romance, which I personal enjoyed. There is also a strong found family aspect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Suicide

Minor: War

lyricallit's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

3.25

I did enjoy it but it's almost as much romance as it is mystery. I didn't mind the romance (though there are questionable aspects to it) but just had to adjust my expectations once I saw it coming. I did not care for the narrator; the timbre didn't match what I would have had in my head for Sarah. I looked past that to focus on the story, but it was disappointing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, War, and Murder

gondorgirl's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Suicide, Classism, Murder, Rape, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

sonygaystation's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.75

You know what! Maddy Clare did nothing wrong

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Rape

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual content, Violence, War, Cursing, and Sexual assault

Minor: Confinement, Grief, Alcohol, Gun violence, Medical content, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Stalking

theimposter's review

emotional 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? Yes

4.0

Great ghost story and great mystery! Crime, trauma, war flash backs, romance, ghosts! This book has it all

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Gun violence, Stalking, War, Rape, Murder, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, and Mental illness

sarah_speaks's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content and War

Minor: Death of parent

unboxedjack's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual assault, and Death

Minor: Suicide

shereadytoread's review against another edition

dark mysterious

3.0

This book is good but you can tell her newer books are more polished. The supernatural and romance elements are a bit heavy handed to the point that the story feels disjointed instead of flowing with the mystery. But overall it is interesting with a couple good plot twists.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

msteinhaus's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Wasn't good for me. I don't like books written from the perspective of women who lack confidence in themselves, which is true of this narrator, Sarah Piper. I also don't like the romance trope of people who are irresistibly physically attracted to each other without any actual knowledge of each other. The backstory of the ghost in question is also horrible. In conclusion, this story had lots of attributes that, had I known, probably would have prevented me from picking this up in the first place. You've been warned!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Death, and Child abuse