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entrancedbywords's review against another edition
2.0
I've owned a copy of Dying Scream for a while and finally got around to reading it.
The prologue opens with a shocker, giving me a chance to understand what the killer's motivation is. Once we get into the first chapter, it swings around a different path.
Giving the illusion that its about domestic abuse, that Adrienne is trying to resettle her life and her husbands and his family are dead.
Unfortunately the synopsis says one thing, while the prologue reveals the card too easily. I feel like the author should've scrapped the prologue if they wanted to keep the mystery, otherwise reveal the twist in the synopsis cause the two feel mismatched in the story.
By page 100 I started to skim over pages, it felt like the author was repeating minor details, such as clothing, mundane human tasks and household items. There's only so many times I can read that throughout a book.
One thing that did frustrate me was the way flashbacks were done. I was always under the assumption that the number one rule of flashbacks was they were done in italics. Unfortunately this book doesn't do that, which means you'll read a present scene and suddenly your left re-reading a scene because you hadn't clocked that it was a flashback.
Because there was too many characters to follow, when the twist of the killer was revealed, I had forgot who that particular character was and ended up losing interest.
The final chapter feels too rushed, it's as if the author forgot about the twist and put it in barely 10 pages.
Than the epilogue was essentially a recap of the book in three pages.
The prologue opens with a shocker, giving me a chance to understand what the killer's motivation is. Once we get into the first chapter, it swings around a different path.
Giving the illusion that its about domestic abuse, that Adrienne is trying to resettle her life and her husbands and his family are dead.
Unfortunately the synopsis says one thing, while the prologue reveals the card too easily. I feel like the author should've scrapped the prologue if they wanted to keep the mystery, otherwise reveal the twist in the synopsis cause the two feel mismatched in the story.
By page 100 I started to skim over pages, it felt like the author was repeating minor details, such as clothing, mundane human tasks and household items. There's only so many times I can read that throughout a book.
One thing that did frustrate me was the way flashbacks were done. I was always under the assumption that the number one rule of flashbacks was they were done in italics. Unfortunately this book doesn't do that, which means you'll read a present scene and suddenly your left re-reading a scene because you hadn't clocked that it was a flashback.
Because there was too many characters to follow, when the twist of the killer was revealed, I had forgot who that particular character was and ended up losing interest.
The final chapter feels too rushed, it's as if the author forgot about the twist and put it in barely 10 pages.
Than the epilogue was essentially a recap of the book in three pages.
beastreader's review
3.0
Women beware…There is a serial killer on the loose. So far three women have gone missing. There is the aspiring artist, high school senior and the stripper.
The authorities have a suspect on their radar. The issue is that this person is suppose to be dead. His name is Craig Thornton. He and his fiancé, Adrianna were to be married but a drunk driver crashed into them, causing Adrianna to lose her baby and sending Craig into a coma that he never woke up from. Now someone is leaving Adrianna a written message. It is signed by Craig.
Detective Gage Hudson latest case brings him to the doorstep of his former lover…Adrianna. He and Adrianna used to be a hot item. Detective Gage doesn’t believe Craig is alive but current evidence does have him starting to wonder. Gage will do anything to protect Adrianna, even if it means sacrificing his life.
Dying Scream is the third book I have read by this author. While I have enjoyed every book of Mary Burton’s thus far, I didn’t quite like this one as much. The plot wasn’t bad but it was the characters that I found lacking. I couldn’t find myself engaged in the characters. The relationship between Detective Gage and Adrianna was a gallant effort. I liked Gage. He made a good male lead. Adrianna got on my nerves. She seemed like she was better than everyone and when the time called for her to be strong, she wilted. Dying Scream didn’t leave with screaming for glee. Though, I do plan to check out Mary Burton’s next novel.
The authorities have a suspect on their radar. The issue is that this person is suppose to be dead. His name is Craig Thornton. He and his fiancé, Adrianna were to be married but a drunk driver crashed into them, causing Adrianna to lose her baby and sending Craig into a coma that he never woke up from. Now someone is leaving Adrianna a written message. It is signed by Craig.
Detective Gage Hudson latest case brings him to the doorstep of his former lover…Adrianna. He and Adrianna used to be a hot item. Detective Gage doesn’t believe Craig is alive but current evidence does have him starting to wonder. Gage will do anything to protect Adrianna, even if it means sacrificing his life.
Dying Scream is the third book I have read by this author. While I have enjoyed every book of Mary Burton’s thus far, I didn’t quite like this one as much. The plot wasn’t bad but it was the characters that I found lacking. I couldn’t find myself engaged in the characters. The relationship between Detective Gage and Adrianna was a gallant effort. I liked Gage. He made a good male lead. Adrianna got on my nerves. She seemed like she was better than everyone and when the time called for her to be strong, she wilted. Dying Scream didn’t leave with screaming for glee. Though, I do plan to check out Mary Burton’s next novel.
myrdyr's review
2.0
Meh. It was a holiday read that I loaned to another traveler before finishing. Had I kept it, I would likely have finished it, but I was struggling with it. I read about half and nothing much actually happened in those pages. The writing was kind of stiff and it just wasn't doing much for me.
lantinucci2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
salene27's review
3.0
Good book,I liked the mystery behind it and I never guessed who the killer was, I also liked Gage and the secondary love story between ALex and Tess. The only thing that could have made this story better would have been if Adrianna was not in it, I didn't like her nor could I sympithize with her.
alx25's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
mountie9's review against another edition
5.0
One of those keep you on the edge of your seat page turners that you just cannot put down. This is my first novel that I have read from Mary Burton and I honestly cannot wait to read some more of her works. Fabulous use of dark humour and some great characters, what is not to love. Highly recommend!
becci_27's review
4.0
I love Mary burtons writing style and how she takes you straight to the story, while also giving you a back story to the characters and they wasn’t made perfect the had flaws which made them more realistic.
My only complaint is I wish we got more time at the end to explore and enjoy finding out who the killer was, sometimes I find the ending is wrapped up to neatly and I found that again the characters got there happily ever after.
But all that being said Mary burton is a fantastic author and I will continue to read and love her books
My only complaint is I wish we got more time at the end to explore and enjoy finding out who the killer was, sometimes I find the ending is wrapped up to neatly and I found that again the characters got there happily ever after.
But all that being said Mary burton is a fantastic author and I will continue to read and love her books
curryteddy's review against another edition
3.0
If an author can keep a reader who plows through 3-4 serial killer books a month from figuring out the ending I'd say she's earned the 3.5 points. I enjoy the challenge even if I fail to uncover the guilty culprit. Well, almost failed :P
Some of the connections made and clues found were a tad bit too convenient but Burton did a great job otherwise. Her plot took its sweet time in unfolding itself. Never revealing too much nor too less. So many writers struggle to get this balance!
Some of the connections made and clues found were a tad bit too convenient but Burton did a great job otherwise. Her plot took its sweet time in unfolding itself. Never revealing too much nor too less. So many writers struggle to get this balance!