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jennifermreads's review against another edition
3.0
As long as I do not read Patterson’s books in quick succession, I find them quite enjoyable. This could be a stand-alone novel but I suspect that the open questions and telling endpapers are right in hinting at the start of a series. Tandy was interesting enough to want to read more about. And, the genetic alterations to her & her brothers were equally intriguing and I wouldn’t mind finding out how they adjust in going off the pills.
I guessed early on that the parents either killed themselves or it was a murder-suicide. Not sure exactly what lead me down that road. This is a complex family and there are many complications in their lives. Tandy and her brothers are geniuses but emotionally flawed.
All around a good, quick read. Violence and a mention of affair/pregnancy may make parents cringe at their tweens reading it -- but I can see tweens enjoying this as well as teens.
I guessed early on that the parents either killed themselves or it was a murder-suicide. Not sure exactly what lead me down that road. This is a complex family and there are many complications in their lives. Tandy and her brothers are geniuses but emotionally flawed.
All around a good, quick read. Violence and a mention of affair/pregnancy may make parents cringe at their tweens reading it -- but I can see tweens enjoying this as well as teens.
shelfaddiction's review against another edition
3.0
Check out my Confessions of a Murder Suspect video review and more on my YouTube channel Shelf Addiction on YouTube.
sarahannkateri's review against another edition
2.0
I've always avoided reading anything by Patterson on basis of principle (I don't like his sweatshop writing model) but my HS book group wanted a murder mystery, so I finally had to read one of his books. I don't think I was missing much.
Maude and Malcom Angel had it all: ridiculous amounts of money, the most prestigious address in New York, and 4 children whose talents were world-renowned. But when Maude and Malcom are found dead in their bedroom, it seems like one of those children might have a more sinister talent...A talent for MURDER.
Okay, that was deliberately cheesy, because I felt like this whole book was super cheesy. The cops were caricatures, and some of the siblings -Hugo in particular- were laughably ridiculous. But the biggest problem for me was how unrealistic everything was. I could take the subplot about drugs giving kids almost supernatural abilities with a grain of salt, but having the police repeatedly interrogate minors without any guardian present? I don't have a degree in Criminal Justice, but I'm pretttttty sure any confession or evidence obtained when a cop was intimidating a 16-year-old and telling them they were a suspect would get thrown. the hell. out.
The mystery aspect was decent, with plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, I liked Tandy's meta discussion about unreliable narrators, and the end made me think that the sequel will probably be better than this one, but I don't think I'll be reading anymore Patterson.
Maude and Malcom Angel had it all: ridiculous amounts of money, the most prestigious address in New York, and 4 children whose talents were world-renowned. But when Maude and Malcom are found dead in their bedroom, it seems like one of those children might have a more sinister talent...A talent for MURDER.
Okay, that was deliberately cheesy, because I felt like this whole book was super cheesy. The cops were caricatures, and some of the siblings -Hugo in particular- were laughably ridiculous. But the biggest problem for me was how unrealistic everything was. I could take the subplot about drugs giving kids almost supernatural abilities with a grain of salt, but having the police repeatedly interrogate minors without any guardian present? I don't have a degree in Criminal Justice, but I'm pretttttty sure any confession or evidence obtained when a cop was intimidating a 16-year-old and telling them they were a suspect would get thrown. the hell. out.
The mystery aspect was decent, with plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, I liked Tandy's meta discussion about unreliable narrators, and the end made me think that the sequel will probably be better than this one, but I don't think I'll be reading anymore Patterson.
omccloskey's review against another edition
1.0
Click the image above to view this review on my blog, Brewing Up Books.
Despite reading Patterson's Maximum Ride series when I was younger, I have never associated him with children's literature or even the young adult genre. To date, my mind immediately jumps to adult/mystery novels that often revolve around brutal murders whenever I come across his name. Therefore, I was rather taken aback when I discovered that he had written a "crime" series geared toward a teenage audience and was mildly apprehensive about his approach to the subject material.
While what I read was quite far from my initial expectations in terms of gory details and sinister plots devised by completely deranged antagonists, the novel as a whole seemed oversimplified and outright boring (which is highly impressive considering that several characters were brutally murdered throughout the course of the novel). Despite Patterson's undeniably excellent writing, he appeared to struggle to connect with his intended readers, constructing a narrator and plot that would appeal to much younger, child-like audience as opposed to the young adult/teen crowd to which the series was marketed. The novel, unfortunately, didn't contain Patterson's typical, complex plot with a wide range of twists and turns. Instead, the murder itself and the evidence presented throughout the book were rather lackluster and unimpressive, and the solution to the "crime" was not well concealed. I was hoping for a mystery of significantly greater complexity and overall substance but was disappointed in this respect.
Patterson attempted to weave together too many plots simultaneously and it didn't work. Whatsoever. While many of the characters were involved in several of these unfolding series of events, there were no apparent connections or associations between the plots themselves - they almost appeared as completely separate entities. The majority of the characters had no idea what was transpiring at any given moment, and as a reader, I was equally, if not more, confused.
The teenage protagonist and narrator, Tandy, was repeatedly on my nerves due to her obstinate unwillingness to act her age. Her thoughts and behavior mirrored those of an unruly toddler whose favorite word is "mine." She conveyed a highly self-centered perspective throughout the novel and, prior to acting, would only question the immediate repercussions of these decisions and how they would impact solely her. She failed to consider the interests and wellbeing of those around her, including her remaining family members. After the death of a loved one, families often become closer, but Tandy had a tendency to push hers away, despite their good-intentions and warranted concerns.
Furthermore, Tandy constantly assumed a know-it-all attitude, particularly in the presence of her superiors. While intelligent, her age and overall lack of life experiences rendered her in no position to belittle and speak down to police inspectors as well as her elders. It would have been nice to see someone shut her down on at least one of these occasions because she certainly could have used an ego-check. Or perhaps she just had a burning aspiration to become Nancy Drew's successor... She also had an aggravating habit of going off on completely unrelated tangents with no connections to past, present, or future events.
The remaining characters were equally flat, and quite a few of them had ongoing psychiatric illnesses that likely should have been addressed. They appeared alarmingly emotionless, and their reactions or lack thereof to the various murders was equally concerning. Lastly, there was no characterization - the characters maintained the same personalities, traits, and mindsets for the duration of the novel with minimal variation.
The conclusion also served as a letdown. The solution to the mystery was rather lousy and unimpressive. Considering this was the first installment of a multi-book series, I was expecting a significant cliffhanger which was...nonexistent. There were very few questions that were left unanswered, and I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. There was absolutely no incentive for me to continue reading the series above and beyond the fact that I had already checked the next book out from the library.
emrache's review against another edition
3.0
You know it's not fine literature if the narrator is literally calling herself an unreliable narrator and explaining exactly what that means. But an amusing story nonetheless.
kstring's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't really know what to expect when I started this book and I had kind of avoided reading it. But once I started, I couldn't stop! I was left baffled the entire book, just as the main character, and couldn't figure anything out about the murder! I loved the character development of Tandy as she tried to figure out her past and who she really was. I look forward to the second book. Scandal, a family of suspicious, rich geniuses, and uncovering family secrets--a definite read for those who like Jennifer Lynn Barnes "The Naturals". I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a modern mystery.
ribey's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.0
read it aloud with friends as book club (*^ω^) fun!!
so_intoreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
iamnotkieltho's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
This was the first mystery murder I've read and the first physical book I bought with my own money and it has been 6 years and I still like the writing style and technique of the book. It was easy to follow and interesting until the end. Despite what the reviews of other people, I really like it.
This was the first mystery murder I've read and the first physical book I bought with my own money and it has been 6 years and I still like the writing style and technique of the book. It was easy to follow and interesting until the end. Despite what the reviews of other people, I really like it.