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birdee_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
amygraver1's review
3.0
- I'm not quite sure why I continued reading or if I 'liked' this
- The drama kept me interested even though it was so fair fetched
- INCEST VIBES?? too many incest vibes for me just was weird...
- But props to Swanson he did hook me in
- The drama kept me interested even though it was so fair fetched
- INCEST VIBES?? too many incest vibes for me just was weird...
- But props to Swanson he did hook me in
theatretenor's review against another edition
5.0
I was gonna give it 4 stars but it really picked up at the end and the end was fantastic as well! 🤘 I read basically in two sittings, it was definitely entertaining! Crazy characters and some fun plot twists! Pretty much all you want in a good murder thriller!
faas22's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
ihateprozac's review against another edition
3.0
Meh.
This felt less like a mystery and more of a depressing and meandering family drama about pedophilia and how abused children go on to abuse other children.
The ending was spicy, but I could’ve done without the 100 dull pages in the middle
This felt less like a mystery and more of a depressing and meandering family drama about pedophilia and how abused children go on to abuse other children.
The ending was spicy, but I could’ve done without the 100 dull pages in the middle
erickibler4's review against another edition
4.0
A solid, suspenseful read. I recommend it. However, I think the ending may have gone a bit...overboard.
lovelykd's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Edelweiss and William Morrow/HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and offer an honest review.
Harry is on the brink of his college graduation when he receives the news that his father has mysteriously died.
Once Harry arrives back home, in Maine, his stepmother (Alice) begins to make moves towards him that are unbecoming a widow. As the story begins to unfold, carefully and methodically, we learn there are elements of Alice's past that may have played a role in Harry's future, and possibly his father's early demise.
Harry is determined to find all the answers, and gather up all the missing pieces, of this mystery. However, in so doing he may have put himself in danger as well.
The story of Alice is revealed slowly and, eventually, it becomes very easy to figure out the answers to "all the beautiful lies" that are told throughout the present. The challenge exists in finding where the arrows connect.
This is my first foray into Peter Swanson's twisted mind.
While the story itself was compulsively readable, it wasn't complicated or tough to surmise where the twists and turns would culminate, but I will say it was tough for me to navigate the seedier parts of the relationships he presented. Some of it was downright despicable, but it definitely made sense for the plot.
It was a quick read, with snappy dialogue, and an eclectic cast of characters. Most of whom were unlikable, to be honest: Harry was too driven by sexual need, Alice was creepy, and both Caitlin and Grace needed far better brains than they were given.
However, putting all that aside, getting from start to finish wasn't a bad ride. I'd recommend this one to anyone whose read and loved Swanson's other books, and to those who hunger for twisted psychological thrillers.
Harry is on the brink of his college graduation when he receives the news that his father has mysteriously died.
Once Harry arrives back home, in Maine, his stepmother (Alice) begins to make moves towards him that are unbecoming a widow. As the story begins to unfold, carefully and methodically, we learn there are elements of Alice's past that may have played a role in Harry's future, and possibly his father's early demise.
Harry is determined to find all the answers, and gather up all the missing pieces, of this mystery. However, in so doing he may have put himself in danger as well.
The story of Alice is revealed slowly and, eventually, it becomes very easy to figure out the answers to "all the beautiful lies" that are told throughout the present. The challenge exists in finding where the arrows connect.
This is my first foray into Peter Swanson's twisted mind.
While the story itself was compulsively readable, it wasn't complicated or tough to surmise where the twists and turns would culminate, but I will say it was tough for me to navigate the seedier parts of the relationships he presented. Some of it was downright despicable, but it definitely made sense for the plot.
It was a quick read, with snappy dialogue, and an eclectic cast of characters. Most of whom were unlikable, to be honest: Harry was too driven by sexual need, Alice was creepy, and both Caitlin and Grace needed far better brains than they were given.
However, putting all that aside, getting from start to finish wasn't a bad ride. I'd recommend this one to anyone whose read and loved Swanson's other books, and to those who hunger for twisted psychological thrillers.
nerdywerewolf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Solid mystery from Swanson. Hated the MC who never took any responsibility for anything...as intended. Loved the MC who had to gumshoe his way through his own life. Nice wrap-up.
beccajbooks's review
3.0
Ok, so I have had some time to think about this one and here are my thoughts. 3.5stars.
So we have a college kid, Harry, who gets the sad news that his dad has died and that he needs to return home to help with the funeral and running the house for a little while. His step mother is at home and needs his support as she is fragile and grieving. Alice was married to Harry's dad for a couple of years and she isn't that much older than him. As a typical teenage boy, he finds himself sexually attracted to her, but not so much that he would take any action on it.
When Harry is home, he finds out that his father's death may not be as accidental as he first thought, and this book explores the likely explanation for his fathers death and why Alice is acting so suspiciously.
There are a host of secondary characters, who are all fleshed out well. And the main storyline, as well as the way it is written - now and then - is good, a really interesting concept. However, I found it quite slow to get into. I thought that there was a lot of detail and back story before anything really happened. This put me off and when it all started happening at the end, I couldn't help feeling that it was a little too late.
Alice is a horrible character. I don't suppose we are meant to like her, but I absolutely didn't like her. She was manipulative, secretive, rude and deceptive.
Harry's dad wasn't all angels and sunshine either, having the affair with the younger girl from New York. The twins were annoying. Harry and his mate from college were probably the only ones I liked.
So overall, I was a bit underwhelmed. I had had high hopes because I absolutely LOVED The Kind Worth Killing. That one was one of my favourite reads of the year I read it. So fantastic and I can't wait to read it again. Very different to this one.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
So we have a college kid, Harry, who gets the sad news that his dad has died and that he needs to return home to help with the funeral and running the house for a little while. His step mother is at home and needs his support as she is fragile and grieving. Alice was married to Harry's dad for a couple of years and she isn't that much older than him. As a typical teenage boy, he finds himself sexually attracted to her, but not so much that he would take any action on it.
When Harry is home, he finds out that his father's death may not be as accidental as he first thought, and this book explores the likely explanation for his fathers death and why Alice is acting so suspiciously.
There are a host of secondary characters, who are all fleshed out well. And the main storyline, as well as the way it is written - now and then - is good, a really interesting concept. However, I found it quite slow to get into. I thought that there was a lot of detail and back story before anything really happened. This put me off and when it all started happening at the end, I couldn't help feeling that it was a little too late.
Alice is a horrible character. I don't suppose we are meant to like her, but I absolutely didn't like her. She was manipulative, secretive, rude and deceptive.
Spoiler
I wasn't sold on the Jake aspect of the now and don't think that this was a very plausible arc to the storyline. It makes no sense that NO ONE would recognise him in this seemingly small town, if that is where he was from and especially as Alice was still there?!Harry's dad wasn't all angels and sunshine either, having the affair with the younger girl from New York. The twins were annoying. Harry and his mate from college were probably the only ones I liked.
So overall, I was a bit underwhelmed. I had had high hopes because I absolutely LOVED The Kind Worth Killing. That one was one of my favourite reads of the year I read it. So fantastic and I can't wait to read it again. Very different to this one.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com