Reviews

Vuorten varjo by Clare Mackintosh

themysterymaven's review against another edition

4.0

Ffion Morgan is one of my favorite FMCs, and I was so excited to quickly read the second installment in her story. She’s still sassy and flawed in the best and funniest ways as she solves another crime in her small hometown. As a set of Survivor-style contestants camp on the area’s largest mountain for a reality t.v. show, things quickly devolve amidst the swirl of secrets at the forefront of the script. That’s the catch - if you’re voted off, your biggest skeleton in the closet gets revealed, so no surprise that murder finds it’s way into the casting call.

Aside from the case, Ffion must also navigate her feelings for her police partner, and it’s awkward and cringe-worthy, at times, in the most endearing of ways. It makes Ffion seem very real and human rather than the fiction that she is.

I didn’t love this story nearly as much as I did the first. Sometimes, the plot and motives got a bit mushed around, and even with a murder, it felt less dark and intense. But, I’m glad the series continues!

priyastoric's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

tamsinsilva's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 This was a standard thriller, it's the second in a series but you could read this as a stand alone, as far as plot twists go it wasn't actually predictable which was refreshing but I feel like a little over complicated and unbelievable. The author uses their personal experience in the police force to know specific jargon that if you work for the British police you'll appreciate but of course being fiction the amount of unprofessionalism is a bit much. Fast paced, could see it going down well as a good beach or holiday read and the setting of north wales does sound beautiful. 

easy to read 

realistic setting 

fast-paced 

ghadeerbook's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

karinlee123's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

pantoleia's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

The concept of „A Game of Lies“ is quite clever, also that the story unravels in 3 parts and you gain more and more information while the story continues. I would have never guessed the outcome, which made it quite interesting at the end. But for me personally, it took quite a long time to get into the story and to really want to continue reading. 

lisa_butler79's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense

4.0

One of 12 books recommended by a friend to read in 2024. Thank you, Vicky Burr.

This is the second instalment of the DC Morgan series. The first book was enjoyable, and the second instalment was much better. I was worried about reading this book in case it had the same kind of "it's a just ok" read, but it was so much better.

The book starts with the reality TV programme "Exposure" where the contestants believe they are going to be in a survival camp, a bit like bear Grills, in order to compete against each other to win £100000. Who doesn't like a reality TV survival programme? However, there is a twist the contestants were not expectinginstalmentthat could ruin their lives, and then a contestant goes missing, and a body is found. Ffion knows every one of her suspects has an alibi . . . and a secret worth killing for.

This book sees the return of DC Ffion and DS Leo Brady. The last book ended with a will they get together vibe but it's obvious from the start of this book that they haven't got together and whereas in the first book there was love tension this book sees the strain and awkwardness between the two professionals.

This book is as addictive as a trashy reality TV programme. Looking into people's lives and being a judge based on what we are shown and the author does the same with the writing of this book.

I look forward to the next instalment of this series as I enjoy Ffions' complex character.

mkguyz's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.5

s_haynes88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

sking055's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75