readhikerepeat's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been reading more mysteries and thrillers lately, and I have to say I’ve really been enjoying them. My latest, He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker, is no exception. It’s the story of a woman named Maggie who comes home after a friend’s suicide. Convinced her friend would never do such a thing, she sticks around to investigate, even though she knows she could be wrong. But as she asks more questions and delves deeper into her friend’s past, including her involvement with rare antiques, she finds herself tangled in the web of danger that led to her friend’s death.
He Will Be My Ruin grabbed me from the beginning with its writing style (quick but thorough) and by jumping right into the action. We get to know the friend who died through a series of diary entries punctuated throughout the book and her story is heartbreaking. Although she is the reason for the story, it is Maggie who takes center stage. Maggie, who I had a hard time connecting with at first, quickly grew on me. In addition to being a strong and confident woman, she’s quirky and slightly socially awkward, which I can relate to. Plus, her well-rounded development left me more invested in her story than I would have been, otherwise. Even when I was silently shouting at her for her choices, I was rooting for her.
Two things surprised me about this book. First, it reminded me how much I enjoy stories about art. One of my favorite books for a long time was Three Fates by Nora Roberts (clearly my tastes have changed) but I forgot how fun stories about rare art and their histories can be.
For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
He Will Be My Ruin grabbed me from the beginning with its writing style (quick but thorough) and by jumping right into the action. We get to know the friend who died through a series of diary entries punctuated throughout the book and her story is heartbreaking. Although she is the reason for the story, it is Maggie who takes center stage. Maggie, who I had a hard time connecting with at first, quickly grew on me. In addition to being a strong and confident woman, she’s quirky and slightly socially awkward, which I can relate to. Plus, her well-rounded development left me more invested in her story than I would have been, otherwise. Even when I was silently shouting at her for her choices, I was rooting for her.
Two things surprised me about this book. First, it reminded me how much I enjoy stories about art. One of my favorite books for a long time was Three Fates by Nora Roberts (clearly my tastes have changed) but I forgot how fun stories about rare art and their histories can be.
For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
A perfectly serviceable mystery, with a side of steamy for those who like a little romance with their thrills. Narrator Maggie's childhood friend Celine is found dead in her apartment, the police ruling it a suicide. And—brace yourself for the shock—Maggie doesn't believe Celine would do such a thing, especially after she finds a risque photo with a cryptic note on the back in her dead friend's handwriting. As any plucky protagonist would in her situation, Maggie decides to do a little investigating while she's in town wrapping up the estate.
As you can guess from the setup, the book is perhaps a smidge predictable. I found myself rolling my eyes at the way Maggie narrowed her focus, treating her prime suspect with a constant abundance of caution while welcoming literally everyone else she met into her investigation, describing in detail all the clues she'd found and conclusions she'd drawn to anyone who expressed a passing interest. It rang false that she would overshare so much when her friend's death was still very much unsolved. (Although I loved elderly neighbor Ruby, and looked forward to the scenes when she would show up with homemade shortbread and tea.)
With regards to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale now!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
As you can guess from the setup, the book is perhaps a smidge predictable. I found myself rolling my eyes at the way Maggie narrowed her focus, treating her prime suspect with a constant abundance of caution while welcoming literally everyone else she met into her investigation, describing in detail all the clues she'd found and conclusions she'd drawn to anyone who expressed a passing interest. It rang false that she would overshare so much when her friend's death was still very much unsolved. (Although I loved elderly neighbor Ruby, and looked forward to the scenes when she would show up with homemade shortbread and tea.)
With regards to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale now!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
It took me a while to get words to explain the brilliance that is He Will Be My Ruin! This suspense / mystery / psychological thriller is well done, with a complex plot, and fleshed out characters.
I've been a Tucker fan for a long time, and I have to say, her branching out to mystery and thriller like He Will Be My Ruin was a great move! She managed to keep the suspense going, and I was seriously out of breath several times, especially when Maggie was starting to have a panic attack. The beginning was very sad and nostalgic, because Maggie came to New York not to spend time with her best friend Celine, but to pack up her apartment after she had committed suicide. Only, Maggie really couldn't believe Celine would do that - it was so far off from anything the girl she had grown up with would ever do, especially because Celine's mother, Rosa, was in remission after a long fight against breast cancer.
As the story unfolded, Maggie was up for a lot of surprises, though. Between Celine's antique-filled apartment, her diaries, and a hidden compartment in a small box, Maggie uncovers more secrets than she bargained for! Little by little, the girl she thought she knew better than anyone in the world turned out to be quite different from what Maggie had thought. And she also learned what Celine really thought of her - with no holding back at all, since she was never supposed to read those diaries anyway. Maggie's loyalty never wavers, though, she continues to believe that Celine was killed, rather than killed herself, and when the police won't listen to her, she hires a PI to help her.
Because Maggie follows some of the clues herself, and her thoughts seemed to follow both her gut feeling and the clues she found, I was looking for clues with her. And I agreed with her more often than not, with a heavy heart from all she uncovered, and how she wavered between hope and sadness just felt so real to me. Both because her best friend was dead, and because of everything else surrounding that. There is a lot happening in He Will Be My Ruin, with more than one sub-plot, and they are all quite intricate and very well done.
I loved that Tucker managed to keep me guessing right along with Maggie! There were definitely some characters that could be the culprit, but there was always enough doubt, or there was someone else who might look even better for it! I loved the interactions between Maggie and Ruby, Celine's old neigbour. At first, Maggie steered clear of the older woman, due to her claustrophobic apartment - filled with even more treasures than Celine's. Then, there is the PI, Jace, the sexy super... The cast of characters is amazing, and I just couldn't stop reading to find out if Maggie was right about Celine's death or not, and if she was, who was the person behind it all?
Written in first person, present tense, He Will Be My Ruin was an expertly woven mystery, filled with suspense, a little bit of romance, and a tension that never stopped coming.
Not a speck of dust. Celine couldn't stand disorder. Every single nutcracker faced out, equidistant from the next, shortest in front, tallest in back, as if she measured them with a ruler and placed them just so.
In my eyes, it was a given that Celine would always be part of my life. We were an odd match. From our looks to our social status to our polar-opposite personalities, we couldn't have been more different. I was the captain of the debate squad and Celin played the romantic female lead in her school plays.
Was Celine still a good person, despite what she did for money? Yes, I believe so. And yet my memory of her has been tainted. no wonder she never told me.
It took me a while to get words to explain the brilliance that is He Will Be My Ruin! This suspense / mystery / psychological thriller is well done, with a complex plot, and fleshed out characters.
I've been a Tucker fan for a long time, and I have to say, her branching out to mystery and thriller like He Will Be My Ruin was a great move! She managed to keep the suspense going, and I was seriously out of breath several times, especially when Maggie was starting to have a panic attack. The beginning was very sad and nostalgic, because Maggie came to New York not to spend time with her best friend Celine, but to pack up her apartment after she had committed suicide. Only, Maggie really couldn't believe Celine would do that - it was so far off from anything the girl she had grown up with would ever do, especially because Celine's mother, Rosa, was in remission after a long fight against breast cancer.
As the story unfolded, Maggie was up for a lot of surprises, though. Between Celine's antique-filled apartment, her diaries, and a hidden compartment in a small box, Maggie uncovers more secrets than she bargained for! Little by little, the girl she thought she knew better than anyone in the world turned out to be quite different from what Maggie had thought. And she also learned what Celine really thought of her - with no holding back at all, since she was never supposed to read those diaries anyway. Maggie's loyalty never wavers, though, she continues to believe that Celine was killed, rather than killed herself, and when the police won't listen to her, she hires a PI to help her.
Because Maggie follows some of the clues herself, and her thoughts seemed to follow both her gut feeling and the clues she found, I was looking for clues with her. And I agreed with her more often than not, with a heavy heart from all she uncovered, and how she wavered between hope and sadness just felt so real to me. Both because her best friend was dead, and because of everything else surrounding that. There is a lot happening in He Will Be My Ruin, with more than one sub-plot, and they are all quite intricate and very well done.
I loved that Tucker managed to keep me guessing right along with Maggie! There were definitely some characters that could be the culprit, but there was always enough doubt, or there was someone else who might look even better for it! I loved the interactions between Maggie and Ruby, Celine's old neigbour. At first, Maggie steered clear of the older woman, due to her claustrophobic apartment - filled with even more treasures than Celine's. Then, there is the PI, Jace, the sexy super... The cast of characters is amazing, and I just couldn't stop reading to find out if Maggie was right about Celine's death or not, and if she was, who was the person behind it all?
Written in first person, present tense, He Will Be My Ruin was an expertly woven mystery, filled with suspense, a little bit of romance, and a tension that never stopped coming.
Not a speck of dust. Celine couldn't stand disorder. Every single nutcracker faced out, equidistant from the next, shortest in front, tallest in back, as if she measured them with a ruler and placed them just so.
In my eyes, it was a given that Celine would always be part of my life. We were an odd match. From our looks to our social status to our polar-opposite personalities, we couldn't have been more different. I was the captain of the debate squad and Celin played the romantic female lead in her school plays.
Was Celine still a good person, despite what she did for money? Yes, I believe so. And yet my memory of her has been tainted. no wonder she never told me.
katekate_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Four stars for a thriller that kept me guessing until the end! I love a story that has me casting a suspicious eye at everyone - even the most unlikely candidates.
I mostly listened to the audiobook, occasionally supplementing with the paper book. I have to say - do NOT make the mistake I made and get to work at 90% through the story!! All day long I was thinking about it and looking forward to hearing the rest - made me excited for the commute home!
I mostly listened to the audiobook, occasionally supplementing with the paper book. I have to say - do NOT make the mistake I made and get to work at 90% through the story!! All day long I was thinking about it and looking forward to hearing the rest - made me excited for the commute home!
hlogan's review against another edition
3.0
A fun read, with the obligatory plot twists and turns. It kept me turning the pages.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
He Will be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker was a book I thought sounded interesting so I decided to request it. I am glad I did because I enjoyed it!
The story focuses on two major characters. Celine and Maggie. Maggie is in New York because her best friend Celine was found dead and the police have determined it to be a suicide. Maggie doesn’t believe it and decides to move into Celine’s apartment not only to clean up her stuff, but to also do some digging to find out the truth behind her death.
There were quite a few twists and turns with this story and I admit it, I didn’t really know who the bad guy was until the end. As Maggie digs, she meets a number of questionable characters and also some trustworthy ones. I thought Tucker did a wonderful job of building out each of the characters in this story as well as layering in pieces of Celine’s journal to provide background to what Celine was really up to.
I can’t say a lot about the details of the story as I don’t want to ruin the mystery for anyone who reads this book. There were one or two parts where I kind of questioned where the story was going and what the characters were doing but overall I enjoyed this one. If you are looking for an Adult Thriller that will keep you guessing, definitely consider checking this one out. I am looking forward to more from Tucker in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy!
The story focuses on two major characters. Celine and Maggie. Maggie is in New York because her best friend Celine was found dead and the police have determined it to be a suicide. Maggie doesn’t believe it and decides to move into Celine’s apartment not only to clean up her stuff, but to also do some digging to find out the truth behind her death.
There were quite a few twists and turns with this story and I admit it, I didn’t really know who the bad guy was until the end. As Maggie digs, she meets a number of questionable characters and also some trustworthy ones. I thought Tucker did a wonderful job of building out each of the characters in this story as well as layering in pieces of Celine’s journal to provide background to what Celine was really up to.
I can’t say a lot about the details of the story as I don’t want to ruin the mystery for anyone who reads this book. There were one or two parts where I kind of questioned where the story was going and what the characters were doing but overall I enjoyed this one. If you are looking for an Adult Thriller that will keep you guessing, definitely consider checking this one out. I am looking forward to more from Tucker in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy!
reyes_sf's review against another edition
2.0
My other go-to genre when I'm on holidays... only this was quite disappointing. It started out well enough but very quickly it became utterly predictable and just too much. I understand the need for secondary plots to distract the reader, but if too many are used then it easily gets messy
readwritewander's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
norpio's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this thriller. The plot twists were really good and spaced out well. I loved the randon Celine flashback chapters that weren't in a specific sequence and had my head spinning. This is my type of thriller mystery where little hints are thrown everywhere and every chapter we find out something new. I hate it when 90% of a book is just a one single big question mark with an answer in the last 20 pages. No, this book had over 100 question with over 6 different answers to every single question. And some answers here and there that lead to more questions. I loved that. I found it really complex and well though out.
Another thing I loved is seeing Maggie discover unthinkable things about Celine, the person she grew up with. It shows no matter how close you are to someone, you might not know big things about them if they don't want you to know and understand what they're going through. Also, how bad situations cause bad thing to happen to good people.
Another thing I loved is seeing Maggie discover unthinkable things about Celine, the person she grew up with. It shows no matter how close you are to someone, you might not know big things about them if they don't want you to know and understand what they're going through. Also, how bad situations cause bad thing to happen to good people.