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thequiltyreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
gcoulsxn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, and Car accident
Minor: Drug abuse, Vomit, and Alcohol
paronomaniac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Kidnapping, Murder, and Toxic friendship
chris_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying
Minor: Vomit
libraryghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Drug use
bookishgoob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Car accident
just_a_bibliophile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I really liked the characters in this, with the relationships between all of the characters being particularly nice to read about. While I thought some of the characters could have done with a little more fleshing out, I thought Malcolm's character was probably the most developed of them all, and was definitely interesting to read about. I did think that there was a lot of name dropping at the start, and I know I got seriously confused trying to remember who everyone was and how they linked to the story for the first 25% of the book. Not all of these characters were even particularly relevant, I thought it could have done with a little less minor characters who contributed nothing to the actual plot, and a little more development for the main characters. There were so many characters that I really liked the sound of (Mia being a particular favourite of mine), but I just didn't feel they'd been developed enough for me to be able to properly understand them on the level I'd have liked.
It felt very cliche. From the dialogue to the plot and the characters, it felt very YA-typical. It also seemed incredibly similar to many other of the author's books and other YA murder mysteries out there (we're talking small town 'cursed' with lots of cases of disappearing or murdered teenagers, until our MC teenager who just so happens to be really into true crime comes along to solve the mystery). And I mean, that can be quite enjoyable - I've always really enjoyed the rest of McManus's books. I don't think this book is necessarily any worse than her others, it just came across as a little repetitive and honestly kind of dull to me personally - potentially because I've read so many of the author's books by now. I just feel like I've read this book before, as there simply wasn't enough to set it apart from the many, many other YA mysteries out there.
There were some aspects that I did just have to sit and go oh come on, as parts of the plot were quite frankly ridiculously unbelievable, which took away from the usual effect these plot twists have on me. In all honesty, some of the dialogue nearer to the end of the story just made me cringe, it felt so young adult stereotyped and even slightly childish in parts.
Saying this, no, I didn't see what was coming or who was behind it all, and it still had the usual shock factor that I'd expect from one of these books. Undoubtedly worth a read for any McManus fans (although I do think there are better books of hers out there) or murder mystery lovers in general, but maybe not the best for anyone who's read way too many of these sorts of books already.
Rating: 3 stars
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, and Car accident
ilo_the_duck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder
bujo_bellel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, and Car accident
deadgirlwalking23's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Car accident