Reviews

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

katforchen's review against another edition

4.0

This was a real page turner. The author goes from the current time to the past in alternating chapters in order to tell the story.

rachelp4ba59's review against another edition

4.0

Creepy! This book gave me the jitters throughout the whole day it took me to read it. What a way to make flowers spooky!
The suspense was built up so well, I just kept wanting to read. I liked Tessa/Tessie. I thought she was well rounded and complex, although maybe not as traumatised as you would expect in her younger years. Her daughter Charlie, and the addled neighbour Effie, were my favourite side characters. I would have liked the character of Lydia to be explored more.

The build up to the end was great, fast paced and exciting. I'm not sure about the 'big reveal'. Some of it felt a bit out of the blue, with no foreshadowing AT ALL. But overall, I really enjoyed this book. A great time.

araceliream's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

april_golden's review against another edition

4.0

Fast read! Short, edge-of-your-seat chapters, and I could not stop reading. I felt off kilter throughout, in a good way. Ending was a tad anti-climactic, but overall SOLID thriller.

smkean's review against another edition

4.0

This book was the best kind of slow burn. It's the story of a girl who was the only surviving victim of a serial killer. It skips back and forth from her experience and confusion after the attack leading up to the trial and her doubt years later of the guilt of the the man who was sentenced. She believes that the killer is still out there, taunting her and she needs to prove it to save a man from death row. The build up takes awhile to reach conclusion but it's so creepy and paranoia inducing, is she just going crazy? is something really stalking her? it keeps you guessing all the way to the end.

cristellmph's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 rounded up.

There were a lot of POVs at the end that didn't do it for me. I also wished there was more about Lydia's diary, so much to fill in .

mrstanton's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• 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? No

3.0

nika_nix's review against another edition

2.0

A boring and pointless book. I wouldn't even call this a thriller. There was nothing thrilling about it. Twists make no sense, there is almost no plot and the writing is weird and annoying. Huge disappointment.

nixbix_reads's review against another edition

4.0

This was a delightfully suspenseful read. I loved the dual timeline, with present day & the countdown to Terrell's execution, and in 1995 with Tessa's therapy sessions in the lead up to Terrell's trial. While the pace of the story moves fast, the creepiness moves slowly, gradually building up to a shocking end. This is a thriller that is not loud & flashy. It's cleverly plotted & entices you to keep turning the page.

itsmekelly00's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.25