The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
baozixiumai's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
stierbri's review against another edition
5.0
This book got off on a bit of a slow start. I wasn't sure how I liked a wounded deceptive right from the get go. I was wrong. I ended up loving Marnie, and her partner Noah was a great character as well.
There are two seemingly unrelated crime stories going on this book. I did not see it going where it did. Even though we know who's at fault with a third of the book left, I was not left wanting. It was a ride to the end.
I also like how this book closed up the two crimes fully. You don't have to read the next book to n ow what happens. It's all nicely wrapped up. I highly recommend this book. I will be reading the next one in line!
There are two seemingly unrelated crime stories going on this book. I did not see it going where it did. Even though we know who's at fault with a third of the book left, I was not left wanting. It was a ride to the end.
I also like how this book closed up the two crimes fully. You don't have to read the next book to n ow what happens. It's all nicely wrapped up. I highly recommend this book. I will be reading the next one in line!
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first in a series. DI Marnie Rome lost her parents to murder a number of years earlier. Years later Marnie is still visiting the murderer in prison - a detail that I found hard to understand. Her current case involves the attack of a husband who shows up at a women's shelter to see his wife. Husbands are not supposed to know where the shelter is or even that their partners are there. The husband is stabbed - nearly fatally. In her investigation of this incident, Marnie uncovers surprising and contradictory facts. This is a decent thriller although I did not always understand the motivations of Marnie.
hvmariano's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I really wanted to like this book, especially after the reviews I’ve read like.. “it’s the best crime debut I’ve ever read and deserves to be massive” - Erin Kelley, Author of The Poison Tree. Just makes me wonder.. did we read the same book? It did not capture my attention until maybe halfway through, when I got to Part 2. Even then, I struggled to keep interest. But.. I did manage to finish the book and concluded that it was overhyped and had misleading reviews. I don’t think I will be pursuing the rest of the series.
owls_rainbow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
barry_x's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book through Goodreads First Read Giveaways.
This is an excellent novel and I feel Hilary has a really promising career in crime fiction ahead of her. This was a book that once I started I could hardly put down and carried on trying to make time during the day to read.
I don't want to cover to much of the plot as I am wary of spoilers but the plot focuses on themes of domestic violence. DS Marnie Rome and her colleague DS Noah Jake visit a women's refuge to try and obtain a witness statement from a victim of violence. When they arrive there they find a body bleeding from a stab wound and the plot develops from there.
The subject matter is quite challenging and may not be everyone's preference in particular the theme of domestic violence. Violence, including sexual violence feature in this novel and is often described in detail.
The structure and prose of the book is well developed. I am not normally a fan of short chapters as I find them a little manipulative but Hilary keeps the reader continually wanting to read a little more. The pacing of the novel is perfect and Hilary manages to develop enough tension and suspense to keep you interested.
Most of the characters are believable and well crafted. In particular Noah Jake is one of the better 'sidekick' characters I have found in a crime novel. When we were first introduced I was thinking he was 'another crafted stereotype' and I felt he was rather clichéd. However, he is a well rounded, completely believable character with depth. Indeed, all the characters in the novel have depth to them.
This novel deserves to be successful and I think there is some mileage in revisiting Marni Rome, there's so much to her that the reader has to discover. That's not to say, she's superficial - she already is a well defined character with a history and areas for development.
This ticks a lot of boxes for me - great plot, genuine tension and menace, well rounded characters and a really good structure.
This is an excellent novel and I feel Hilary has a really promising career in crime fiction ahead of her. This was a book that once I started I could hardly put down and carried on trying to make time during the day to read.
I don't want to cover to much of the plot as I am wary of spoilers but the plot focuses on themes of domestic violence. DS Marnie Rome and her colleague DS Noah Jake visit a women's refuge to try and obtain a witness statement from a victim of violence. When they arrive there they find a body bleeding from a stab wound and the plot develops from there.
The subject matter is quite challenging and may not be everyone's preference in particular the theme of domestic violence. Violence, including sexual violence feature in this novel and is often described in detail.
The structure and prose of the book is well developed. I am not normally a fan of short chapters as I find them a little manipulative but Hilary keeps the reader continually wanting to read a little more. The pacing of the novel is perfect and Hilary manages to develop enough tension and suspense to keep you interested.
Most of the characters are believable and well crafted. In particular Noah Jake is one of the better 'sidekick' characters I have found in a crime novel. When we were first introduced I was thinking he was 'another crafted stereotype' and I felt he was rather clichéd. However, he is a well rounded, completely believable character with depth. Indeed, all the characters in the novel have depth to them.
This novel deserves to be successful and I think there is some mileage in revisiting Marni Rome, there's so much to her that the reader has to discover. That's not to say, she's superficial - she already is a well defined character with a history and areas for development.
This ticks a lot of boxes for me - great plot, genuine tension and menace, well rounded characters and a really good structure.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this extremely good debut novel. In the first chapter we learn of the huge tragedy that has affected Marnie and shows us the great determination she has in learning how to survive, trust and find the answers in the crime she has to solve
The crime itself takes place in a women's shelter and the detectives Marnie and her sidekick Noah are trying their hardest to solve the case but have to gain the trust of the workers and residents.
I was hooked all the way through and am so glad that this is part of a series. Hope we don't have to wait long for the sequel.
The crime itself takes place in a women's shelter and the detectives Marnie and her sidekick Noah are trying their hardest to solve the case but have to gain the trust of the workers and residents.
I was hooked all the way through and am so glad that this is part of a series. Hope we don't have to wait long for the sequel.
kfrench1008's review against another edition
4.0
Very good police thriller, with a great twist midway through. My only (minor) complaint is that it has little sense of place. It's set in London but there is so little detail it could be anywhere. Maybe that was deliberate, but it gives the book a generic quality that doesn't serve it well.