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iseefirede's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Very mid book. It's not the worst book I've read but it also wasn't very interesting or challenging. If you want a cozy mystery this would probably work for you. But ultimately, there was so much potential that just wasn't used.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Suicide, Stalking, Murder, and Abandonment
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder and Alcohol
stacy837's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Suicide, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
caitlynleahy's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Car accident, and Abandonment
caseydmc's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.5
A fun, lighthearted read that explores our relationship with technology, particularly how we have interwoven technology into our love-life. Protagonist is a queer-Asian and her dynamics with her family and family expectations play heavily in the story, although the character arc for her own personal development fell a little short of my hopes. There are references to intriguing backstories for secondary and tertiary characters, but they felt a little flat. Plot was interesting, plausible for the present-day/near future. Fast, quick, easy read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing and Death
boglord's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
criticalgayze's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While reading The Verifiers, I found myself mentally comparing it to How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu, who provides a blurb on the back of the book.
Like Yu's novel, The Verifiers also addresses technology and devotion to potentially toxic family relationships. Unlike Yu's novel, it does so without much of the inventive style and playful tone.
What you get with The Verifiers is what feels to be the first entry in a new mystery series. As such, the plucky upstart detective, in this case an amateur sleuth, must both be revealed to the reader and put to the test. Often, this means a slim case and lots of backstory. Where this novel struggles most to me is in giving us lots of character backstory but also a details-heavy plot, which leads to a book overly mired in description and explanation without a lot of the fun propulsion the best mysteries should have and with a couple too many unnecessary plot tangents.
By the end of the story, I do believe you come around to the main character and her inner circle in a way that leaves you wanting a sequel to get to know her better. I just wish I didn't have to drudge through so much to get there.
Quotes:
I remind him of the universally acknowledged truth that a single person in possession of a superlative dating profile must not be lying about anything. (p. 10)
In the world of the murder mystery, your best chances of survival are to eschew all meaningful relationships. (p. 141)
I do enjoy heterosexual flirtation when the odd occasion arises. It feels similar to playing blackjack during Chinese New Year with Monopoly money: easy excitement, low consequence. (p. 317)
Like Yu's novel, The Verifiers also addresses technology and devotion to potentially toxic family relationships. Unlike Yu's novel, it does so without much of the inventive style and playful tone.
What you get with The Verifiers is what feels to be the first entry in a new mystery series. As such, the plucky upstart detective, in this case an amateur sleuth, must both be revealed to the reader and put to the test. Often, this means a slim case and lots of backstory. Where this novel struggles most to me is in giving us lots of character backstory but also a details-heavy plot, which leads to a book overly mired in description and explanation without a lot of the fun propulsion the best mysteries should have and with a couple too many unnecessary plot tangents.
By the end of the story, I do believe you come around to the main character and her inner circle in a way that leaves you wanting a sequel to get to know her better. I just wish I didn't have to drudge through so much to get there.
Quotes:
I remind him of the universally acknowledged truth that a single person in possession of a superlative dating profile must not be lying about anything. (p. 10)
In the world of the murder mystery, your best chances of survival are to eschew all meaningful relationships. (p. 141)
I do enjoy heterosexual flirtation when the odd occasion arises. It feels similar to playing blackjack during Chinese New Year with Monopoly money: easy excitement, low consequence. (p. 317)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Murder
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