Scan barcode
justinenoon82's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
While the plot is engaging and the setting atmospheric, the main character felt underdeveloped, which made it hard to fully connect with the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse
crystalsparkles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
katy_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A little uneven in places but kept me guessing and interested the whole way through.
I think starting with the obituary in the prologue is a bit gimmicky and ultimately fell flat but it was interesting to read the others
I think starting with the obituary in the prologue is a bit gimmicky and ultimately fell flat but it was interesting to read the others
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Murder
minimicropup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Restless, dubious, instinctive.
Our MC (an obituary writer) was the sole survivor of a family massacre as a teen and is returning to the community where it occurred to care for their elderly aunt and fix the house they inherited.
🇺🇸 Set in Avalon on Catalina Island, California, USA, mostly in March 2020 with snippets of June 2001
🐺🐕 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
😀 The writing style is very show, not tell. We are thrown in the story and have to figure it out as we go with stream of consciousness bits from Colette, our MC. It can be jarring at first but over time I found it effective for making us feel like we are getting to know her in a natural way, like when meeting someone for the first time. Since it is a character driven story if could be hard to stick with if you don't like Colette or care about what happens to her (and it could be awhile before you figure that out!)
🤔 On a similar note, the suspense is largely from Colette's mindset and interpretations...seemingly innocuous interactions or observations make her feel on edge and then we start to feel that atmosphere and come to see the threatening undercurrent around her too. Again, it kind of relies on caring about what happens to Colette though, otherwise could be hard to stay engaged.
🤔 On a similar note, the suspense is largely from Colette's mindset and interpretations...seemingly innocuous interactions or observations make her feel on edge and then we start to feel that atmosphere and come to see the threatening undercurrent around her too. Again, it kind of relies on caring about what happens to Colette though, otherwise could be hard to stay engaged.
🤷♀️ I predicted the culprits and there is a bit of convenient blindness to Colette about people in her life (like she over analyzes some while implicitly trusting others). I think it's largely explained by her PTSD and loneliness though.
😕 There was a hit of villain monologue describing the nasty scheming in great detail, but It wasn't like that character just flipped personalities suddenly so it didn't feel too contrived. That could also make it predictable early on for some.
😰😔 This was s surprisingly sad and stressful read for me! I was rooting for Colette as our reluctant hero and the isolation was building around her. From lack of support and being on an island where getting on or off is so dependent on the weather, to the grief and early COVID anxiety. Then Colette has to face threats, stalking, direct and systemic racism. It was anxiety-inducing, I had to take breaks but wanted to keep reading.
😕 There was a hit of villain monologue describing the nasty scheming in great detail, but It wasn't like that character just flipped personalities suddenly so it didn't feel too contrived. That could also make it predictable early on for some.
😰😔 This was s surprisingly sad and stressful read for me! I was rooting for Colette as our reluctant hero and the isolation was building around her. From lack of support and being on an island where getting on or off is so dependent on the weather, to the grief and early COVID anxiety. Then Colette has to face threats, stalking, direct and systemic racism. It was anxiety-inducing, I had to take breaks but wanted to keep reading.
Mood Reading Match Up:
- Psychological thriller character study interwoven with the experience of systemic racism, trauma of survivor's guilt, and being Black in America
- Family and friend drama with a can-they-make-it-work, stuck-together romance
- Serial killer who-to-trust murder mystery in an isolated-ish island small-community setting
- Themes and commentary on prejudice, racism, conscious and unconscious bias, and entitlement
Content Heads-Up: Murder. Death of family. Alcohol use. Racism (prejudice, slurs, systemic, persecution). COVID-19 (pre-pandemic uncertainty, early lockdown). Ageism. Poisoning. Confinement. Violence (weapons). False accusation. Home invasion. Threats/stalker. Domestic abuse/toxic relationship. Mental health (PTSD, anxiety, panic).
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Stalking, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
xmeganlowe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Such a unique story and a great two mysteries. There was never a point where I thought I had it figured out cause you never knew who to trust!! More and more secrets came to light as the book went on and the end was a MAJOR plot twist.
I didn’t give it 5 stars because it was a little tough to get into in the beginning as it read a little slow as you gathered the background on the characters. At times, it felt like the pandemic was irrelevant to the story but at the end I do see how that made sense because it really gives you the understanding of the state of society.
I didn’t give it 5 stars because it was a little tough to get into in the beginning as it read a little slow as you gathered the background on the characters. At times, it felt like the pandemic was irrelevant to the story but at the end I do see how that made sense because it really gives you the understanding of the state of society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
3readingcircus's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Dementia, Grief, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cancer, Racial slurs, and Deportation
the_boozy_baking_bibliophile's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 stars - as always, RHH writes a solid tale with a flawed protagonist who seems to find trouble around every corner. In this story, Coco returns to Avalon on Catalina Island, almost 20 years after her parents and younger brother were murdered in a rental as they awaited their new house being finished. The only survivor, she must live with her aunt Gwen, a thief and bitter woman who shipped Coco off and stayed in the house her brother had been waiting to move into. Now, Coco is back and wants to make a fresh start after a divorce. From the jump, she notices strange things on the island…from the high body count of little old ladies dying to the vandalism and outright threats to her own life. She must deduce who is out to get her before it’s too late.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
More...