Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

271 reviews

heykellybutler's review against another edition

4.5

I can’t believe it took me so long to read a book that turned out to be so entirely my shit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Animal cruelty, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation

jamie_el's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

I did enjoy the book overall and definitely found the plot interesting, but it feels like it didn't quite reach its full potential. Quite a few characters are introduced and almost fleshed out to a degree that you think they'll be important, only for them to be never mentioned again. I also found Maxim to be inappropriate and the narrator frustrating at points. The ending was also a little predictable. Despite this, the writing itself was good and the story gripping, even though I felt justice wasn't truly served in the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, and Classism

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Incest, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Alcohol

Many of these triggers are minor and only mentioned in passing or are a product of the time it was written. I would not let them deter if it is a preference rather than an mental health trigger as nothing is particularly explicit.

The main plotline of the book focuses on the deceased ex-wife of the narrator's husband, whom we find out he murdered because she was cheating on him with her cousin. He later gets away with the crime because it is found she had a chronic illness and it is thought that she committed suicide. Most of the triggers pertain to this plotline and the aftermath, but none of the descriptions are hugely explicit and it comes during the reveal at the end of the book.

kaylakuohn's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A childhood favorite, I read this so much I can't read it any more

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

chloe_hazel's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Murder

Minor: Child death and Chronic illness

sareidle's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

Daphne du Maurier's writing is truly immersive, which makes the atmosphere and plot of the story work so well. The narrator lacks a name and any identifying details - we never learn her name, exact age, or family situation - which allows the ghost of Rebecca to loom large over Manderley. As I think more about how the narrator's perspective is limited and heavily informed by her insecurity, I question the retelling of events and the true circumstances surrounding Rebecca's death. I would highly recommend this book - it's even better at creating suspense than the Hitchcock adaptation!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Cancer, Incest, and Fire/Fire injury

lethargicbat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Bullying, Incest, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol

thisiswhy_wecanthavenicethings's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

This book was so interesting and nuanced. It is absolutely not a romance though (don't think it was intended to be). It puts a really interesting perspective on old dynamics among the upper class, a new variation on mystery, and the way it is narrated makes it even more interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gaslighting

jocelyn62013's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, and Gun violence

bak8382'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I haven't read this book since high school, but recently listened to it for a bookclub as our classics pick. I had forgotten some of the key plot points, but they began to come back to me as I listened and I think the twists are great. I feel like I have a different perspective on Rebecca herself now then I did the first time I read it. I'm sure the first time I read it I agreed with Maxim that Rebecca was evil. Now I can't understand what she did that was so terrible. He was so general in his description, I'm rather on Mrs. Danvers side, though her behavior towards the 2nd wife was pretty terrible. It seems like Rebecca was pretty up front with Maxim and he went along. It's my guess that Rebecca herself didn't have a lot of options. The 2nd Mrs. DeWinter is quite delusional, and you can tell that she's really looking for a father figure and not a husband. I do love the detail of never saying the 2nd wife's name while Rebecca's name is uttered many times. This feels like the precursor/inspiration to books like Verity by Colleen Hoover. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

amberinpieces's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Dementia, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail