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abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Murder
staghunters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first thought that comes to mind is the resemblance with Twin Peaks. Not only in the murder of a teenage girl, but particularly in the focus on the small town and the people in it. As the book progresses and we come to know a bit more about Nola Kellergan, the threads that connect her to various side characters.
Marcus, however, is not a good-natured Dale Cooper. His bloated ego shines through till well into the second act, where an incident confronts him with his fame-seeking nature. Though a change in character is not dramatic, he does improve in smaller ways.
The plot has an interesting structure. The chapters count down instead of up, Marcus' storyline is intercut with scenes that take the place of someone's monologue, and what seems to be the end actually isn't.
The latter is also one of my critiques of the book. It is quite slow-paced for all but the last 2 or 3 chapters. Here, the events really rake up and gain speed. It answers questions, sure, but in my opinion, there were a bit too many rug-pulls. Maybe they will make more sense on a reread.
This certainly made me curious about Dicker's other books.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Mental illness and Racism
ly_lysee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism and Pedophilia
btrz7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
I feel like most of the characters were these stereotype/charicature mesh, with absolutely absurd details about some of the side characters. In the end, all of the twists and turns at the end weren't enough to convince me, as I felt it was just taking too long.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
jazful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
ging090803's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Honestly, I understand the idea. It was a great idea. The plot is good... But oh men, it was so long. I am sure the mysterious death of Nola could have been solved way faster than that. I don't understand why, all book long, we had a suspect then no suspect then too many suspects, etc etc. We were circling around everything for 800 pages. I'm sure I would have loved how it was written (between present and past from the author's POV) normally but not this time. It was only confusing and eternal.
If someone wants a recommendation from me, I will say that there are other great mystery books before this one...
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Car accident
jonathanovd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Murder
_remi__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
lindasoderlundd's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
By: Joel Dicker, Translated by Sam Taylor
Marcus Goldman has had a successful first novel, but now he needs to write his sophomore novel, but he’s having writer’s block. He contacts his old mentor Harry Quebert and visits him in the sea side town where he lives. He discovers Harry had a love affair with a 15-year-old girl, and not too long after Marcus has found out, the girl’s body is discovered buried in Harry’s yard.
I almost DNFed this book, but I was interested enough to find out what happened to Nola Kellergan, the girl. I also wanted to know if Harry Querbert was guilty of murdering her, not just pedophile. As beautiful as his words were about their love affair, he was still 35 years old. Harry started out as charming and likable but as the story progressed, he became a character I got frustrated, annoyed with, and pitied. I did not understand how he could love a girl so young and how she had so much power over him, though it made a little more sense once everything was revealed, but only by a little bit. Marcus was the opposite. He started out as self-centered and arrogant person, but as the story goes on you see him grow and learn. Nola was such a mystery and I didn’t know how to feel about her. She instilled mixed feelings in my opinions on her and I didn’t know if I disliked her or felt sorry for her. By the end it was latter. The novel is very readable and unputdownable, despite the temptation to DNF it. Unfortunately, the book is little too long for me. I felt like it could have been cut down by 200 pages. There were times when it felt like it could have ended, but a new twist or red herring would be revealed. The book did surprise me quite a bit with all the red herrings on who murdered Nola. I didn’t see the end coming, but it made sense how it turned out, and felt bittersweet, it felt right with the story.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis