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cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
4.0
Charlotte “Charlie” Cates and her fiancé Noah rescue a missing twelve-year-old boy. Charlie’s dreams lead her to Alex’s location and enable her to locate the missing boy. It’s not the first time Charlie’s dreams have helped her save a child, but this time her abilities have been made public by the media. She escapes the unwanted attention by spending a week in Hawaii on a working vacation with her best friend Rae. She has an assignment to write a profile about Victor Nakagawa who studies volcanoes. However, soon upon her arrival, Charlie begins dreaming of a local girl who has been missing for six weeks. Charlie learns the girl’s name is Lise and has a connection with the subject of the article she is writing. Charlie would like to just relax with Rae, but can’t ignore the fact that her gifts could help find the missing girl.
"The Burning Island" is the third in a series featuring Charlie Cates, but it reads like a standalone novel. I have read the prior two books, but it’s not necessary to read either of them to enjoy this one. The first book in the series is one of my favorite all-time mysteries, but the follow-up was disappointing. Although not as excellent as the first book, I enjoyed it much more than the last one. As much as I like Charlie and Noah as a couple, their immature interactions in the last book took away from the story. This time, the focus is on Charlie herself and she communicates mostly with Rae and the people they meet in Hawaii.
The setting of each of the books in the series have been very different (Louisiana, Arizona, and now Hawaii), but all have added to the story. The sometimes horrible things going on in this book seem worse somehow set against the backdrop of an island paradise. The mystery is very interesting and the novel works well because Charlies doesn’t only rely on her dreams and visions to search for Lise. She and Rae research and find people who knew Lise and ask them difficult questions. Charlie learns some truly horrendous things during her search for the missing teenager. It would have been easier for her to walk away, but as a mother who has experienced the loss of a child, she won’t allow herself to turn her back on the search.
I really enjoyed this book, especially seeing Charlie in a different setting and seeing the growth in her character. The reader is in store for many surprises before the book ends. Some are disturbing but are handled well by the author and by Charlie. In addition to the intriguing mystery, the book is as much about the search for Lise as it is about Charlie accepting her gifts and how to best help others while finding happiness for herself and her family. I don’t know if there will be additional installment in the series, but if not, this book ends on a hopeful note.
This review was originally written for the Smitten blog and review site. The book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
"The Burning Island" is the third in a series featuring Charlie Cates, but it reads like a standalone novel. I have read the prior two books, but it’s not necessary to read either of them to enjoy this one. The first book in the series is one of my favorite all-time mysteries, but the follow-up was disappointing. Although not as excellent as the first book, I enjoyed it much more than the last one. As much as I like Charlie and Noah as a couple, their immature interactions in the last book took away from the story. This time, the focus is on Charlie herself and she communicates mostly with Rae and the people they meet in Hawaii.
The setting of each of the books in the series have been very different (Louisiana, Arizona, and now Hawaii), but all have added to the story. The sometimes horrible things going on in this book seem worse somehow set against the backdrop of an island paradise. The mystery is very interesting and the novel works well because Charlies doesn’t only rely on her dreams and visions to search for Lise. She and Rae research and find people who knew Lise and ask them difficult questions. Charlie learns some truly horrendous things during her search for the missing teenager. It would have been easier for her to walk away, but as a mother who has experienced the loss of a child, she won’t allow herself to turn her back on the search.
I really enjoyed this book, especially seeing Charlie in a different setting and seeing the growth in her character. The reader is in store for many surprises before the book ends. Some are disturbing but are handled well by the author and by Charlie. In addition to the intriguing mystery, the book is as much about the search for Lise as it is about Charlie accepting her gifts and how to best help others while finding happiness for herself and her family. I don’t know if there will be additional installment in the series, but if not, this book ends on a hopeful note.
This review was originally written for the Smitten blog and review site. The book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
annarella's review against another edition
3.0
As much as I tried I was not able to like this book.
It's well written, the characters are lively and it's quite fast paced.
Unfortunately it fell flat.
Many thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss for this ARC
It's well written, the characters are lively and it's quite fast paced.
Unfortunately it fell flat.
Many thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss for this ARC
alaina_difiore's review against another edition
3.0
**Thanks to Penguin/FirsttoRead for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
This is a very okay story. I didn't know it was part of a series when I first started, but it's clear that you need not have read the earlier books.
What I enjoyed most was the writing about the Big Island and descriptions of the landscape. Beyond that the mystery is predictable and key moments telegraphed early enough on in the story that you are just anticipating their occurrence towards the end. Charlie and Rae, both supposedly educated and brilliant, take actions that are insultingly stupid to the point of being unbelievable because that's what the plot needs. And the supernatural elements, though minimal, play a too big part in the story.
This is a very okay story. I didn't know it was part of a series when I first started, but it's clear that you need not have read the earlier books.
What I enjoyed most was the writing about the Big Island and descriptions of the landscape. Beyond that the mystery is predictable and key moments telegraphed early enough on in the story that you are just anticipating their occurrence towards the end.
Spoiler
I could picture the author furiously winking when Charlie got her phone back just in time to be locked in the freezer.lizz6a11's review against another edition
5.0
I am obsessed with these stories and can't wait for the next one!
vivo_morior's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
l_berger's review against another edition
3.0
I received a ARC copy of this book from Penguin First to Read in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third book in the Charlie Cates series. I have not read the predecessors. You do not have to read the previous two to appreciate and follow this novel.
Although I enjoyed the overall mystery, the setting, and the plot twists of The Burning Island, I did predict a few of the pot twists and I felt a lot of the characters’ discussions were heavy with exposition, which got a little tedious.
I did enjoy this book and felt the plot was riveting enough to keep the reader guessing.
This is the third book in the Charlie Cates series. I have not read the predecessors. You do not have to read the previous two to appreciate and follow this novel.
Although I enjoyed the overall mystery, the setting, and the plot twists of The Burning Island, I did predict a few of the pot twists and I felt a lot of the characters’ discussions were heavy with exposition, which got a little tedious.
I did enjoy this book and felt the plot was riveting enough to keep the reader guessing.
awkwardreader13's review
4.0
Very enjoyable read. I was very invested in the case, and I had many many theories, all of them wrong in the end. Um, but apparently this is the 3rd book in a series, so I guess I'll have to go back and read the first two!
sarahsbookstack's review against another edition
4.0
I was so glad to be able to read the end Charlie's unique visions follow her there and get her entangled in a missing persons case. There are some very intense and crazy moments and I was never sure who the "bad guy" would turn out to be.
Hester's writing is superb and reads easily. I read through the last 50% really quickly!
Hester's writing is superb and reads easily. I read through the last 50% really quickly!
snowstar280's review
5.0
This book was incredible. It had twists and turns that I didn't see coming but it was believable all throughout. I learned a lot about islands and volcanoes, was completely immersed in the characters and couldn't put it down at the end. I keep thinking about this story even though I finished it well over a week ago. It was suspenseful but fun and a great read! The voice was lovely and the characters well developed. It wasn't difficult to keep all of the people straight. The story talks about family, personal skills, and the trials and tribulations of life and is believable. No character was perfect but they all had their qualities.
I received this book for free from First To Read in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received this book for free from First To Read in exchange for my honest opinion.