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thehamletfan's review against another edition
4.0
Gripped you early and kept it up the whole way! Based in London so recognised a lot of place names which is always nice! Expected a few twists and turns but was more of a catch a killer than a thriller. Still thoroughly enjoyed it!
beccajbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Yep, really liked this one. I'll keep my review short and to the point, just like the book.
The premise was creepy and entertaining. I thought it was written well and the ending was nicely tied up for me. The plot was really unique and I think this, coupled with the detailed character development, really brought the story to life.
I'm looking forward to reading another of Bauer's books very soon.
Definitely recommended.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
The premise was creepy and entertaining. I thought it was written well and the ending was nicely tied up for me. The plot was really unique and I think this, coupled with the detailed character development, really brought the story to life.
I'm looking forward to reading another of Bauer's books very soon.
Definitely recommended.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
pia_de_e's review against another edition
4.0
I'm turning into a Belinda Bauer fan. I haven't read many of her books (yet) but the ones I have read are so good I just want to keep on reading.
In The Beautiful Dead, we have the story of Eve Singer, a young TV reporter who covers the crime section. If it sounds ghoulish, trust me, it is! She fears life and success are passing her by, so she will do anything to at least maintain her job. At the same time, she is taking care of her elderly father, who has dementia, so life is complicated, lonely and kind of sad for her.
Then she covers a horrible crime scene, and then another; But the killer has chosen her to promote his story, and when he reaches out to her, she realizes there is a very fine line between right and wrong. Will she encourage the killer and with it promote her career? Will she survive this story?
Eve is a great character: she has morals, but she also knows that this might be the end of her career if she doesn't ditch them. But she is smart and knows that the killer can't be trusted and that what she is doing is so wrong, in so many levels. I was struggling with her all along the book.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In The Beautiful Dead, we have the story of Eve Singer, a young TV reporter who covers the crime section. If it sounds ghoulish, trust me, it is! She fears life and success are passing her by, so she will do anything to at least maintain her job. At the same time, she is taking care of her elderly father, who has dementia, so life is complicated, lonely and kind of sad for her.
Then she covers a horrible crime scene, and then another; But the killer has chosen her to promote his story, and when he reaches out to her, she realizes there is a very fine line between right and wrong. Will she encourage the killer and with it promote her career? Will she survive this story?
Eve is a great character: she has morals, but she also knows that this might be the end of her career if she doesn't ditch them. But she is smart and knows that the killer can't be trusted and that what she is doing is so wrong, in so many levels. I was struggling with her all along the book.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
knit_and_purl's review against another edition
4.0
A great, fast-paced thriller for anyone interested in one at Christmas time! Set during the holiday season, the story revolves around Eve Singer, a young reporter for a crime news station. After she reports on the murder of another young woman, Eve becomes the object of obsession for the killer. The opening scenes are particularly creepy, likely because of how realistic they are. The author does a great job of showing us how society has become immune to and enamoured of horrific moments in life, constantly wanting to catch the latest horror story on our cell phones. Eve is a sympathetic character who's dealing with a frantic, cutthroat job while handling a father with dementia. Would recommend this to readers of Jeffery Deaver or watchers of shows such as Criminal Minds.
helgamharb's review against another edition
4.0
A fast-paced and tense mystery/thriller about Eve, a tough and ambitious crime reporter who besides trying to cope with the daily demands of her career and her father who has dementia, catches the attention of a narcissistic and demented serial killer who believes his murders to be artistic creations and demands Eve to "review" them in her reports.
lindseymer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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? No
5.0
queen_rune's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cutenanya's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting as this book maybe, I find the action of the heroine puzzling, illogical, and even disturbing, which is why I give this book a 2.5 rather than a 4.
2) The killer told her that they were in this together and she seemed to be shaken. Hello, why would she be bothered by the killer's comment? Making money over people's dead bodies may not be a highly moral action, but in this modern world, who isn't making money out of other people's pain? That's completely different from murdering people and making their loved ones suffer. I just cannot phantom why she is affected by the comment.
3) The way she treated Jo is also awful. The guy obviously is into her, to the extent he would stand by her even when she is rushing to her death (quite a few times). I don't know if she is in her sane mind or what but luring the killer out is not what I call a brilliant plan, and telling someone who is obviously interested in you that you are going, whether he be coming or not, is even more awful.
Aside from the horrible heroine, I also think the police is very dumb, especially in the part where the theatre manager was murdered. The flyer said someone would be killed at the theatre, so they should have people everywhere, including the doorsteps, the back entrance, EVERYWHERE! Yet, the police only focused INSIDE the theatre. Could you believe it? I don't think any police would be so dumb as to not place officers at the entrance, certainly not Scotland Yard.
I am also feeling uncomfortable with the amount of time allocated to ranting, instead of developing the story. Basically, over half of the book is Eve complaining about her job and caring for her father. I know it is hard to care for an aging invalid but this is a murder mystery, not about caretaking.
There are many other plotholes with which I can go on and on but I shall stop here. Of the 2.5 stars, 2 are for Jo. This guy is an angel, godsend! Where can you find a guy who will always stand by you, even when you are going to challenge a lunatic serial killer, and save you at the right moment. Where can you find a guy who will stay by your side even knowing you have a father who needs care round the clock. Jo is so wonderful I want a Jo myself for Christmas! 0.5 stars is for everything else.
Spoiler
1) When she first received the video from the killer, recording the murder at the cinema, her only concern was whether to air it or not. It never seemed to cross her mind that she should give the footage to the police ASAP, as any sensible citizen would.2) The killer told her that they were in this together and she seemed to be shaken. Hello, why would she be bothered by the killer's comment? Making money over people's dead bodies may not be a highly moral action, but in this modern world, who isn't making money out of other people's pain? That's completely different from murdering people and making their loved ones suffer. I just cannot phantom why she is affected by the comment.
3) The way she treated Jo is also awful. The guy obviously is into her, to the extent he would stand by her even when she is rushing to her death (quite a few times). I don't know if she is in her sane mind or what but luring the killer out is not what I call a brilliant plan, and telling someone who is obviously interested in you that you are going, whether he be coming or not, is even more awful.
Aside from the horrible heroine, I also think the police is very dumb, especially in the part where the theatre manager was murdered. The flyer said someone would be killed at the theatre, so they should have people everywhere, including the doorsteps, the back entrance, EVERYWHERE! Yet, the police only focused INSIDE the theatre. Could you believe it? I don't think any police would be so dumb as to not place officers at the entrance, certainly not Scotland Yard.
I am also feeling uncomfortable with the amount of time allocated to ranting, instead of developing the story. Basically, over half of the book is Eve complaining about her job and caring for her father. I know it is hard to care for an aging invalid but this is a murder mystery, not about caretaking.
There are many other plotholes with which I can go on and on but I shall stop here. Of the 2.5 stars, 2 are for Jo. This guy is an angel, godsend! Where can you find a guy who will always stand by you, even when you are going to challenge a lunatic serial killer, and save you at the right moment. Where can you find a guy who will stay by your side even knowing you have a father who needs care round the clock. Jo is so wonderful I want a Jo myself for Christmas! 0.5 stars is for everything else.
mlie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
2.5
calturner's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who gave me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brilliantly written with a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, 'The Beautiful Dead' is Belinda Bauer at her very best. Taut thriller that really does get your heart racing, mixed with the very real and human story of Eve and her life with her father who is battling dementia. The two tales are interwoven seamlessly and make for a superb book that I did not want to end.
An impressive 5 stars.
Brilliantly written with a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, 'The Beautiful Dead' is Belinda Bauer at her very best. Taut thriller that really does get your heart racing, mixed with the very real and human story of Eve and her life with her father who is battling dementia. The two tales are interwoven seamlessly and make for a superb book that I did not want to end.
An impressive 5 stars.