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writerdove's review against another edition
5.0
I loved her first book, and was eagerly anticipating this read. Once again, the beautiful writing flows into your mind and then grips you tight and pulls you in. A worthy book 2 - I shan't post any spoilers so please just read it!
kats05's review against another edition
3.0
Rounding 2.5 stars up to 3 because it was a compelling, suspenseful book even though I guessed the "who" and "why" within 22 minutes of listening.
It's the same issue each time for me - having only half a dozen characters mean that the reader has slim pickings for "who dunnit" candidates, and in this one it was obvious from the get go.
Never mind, I enjoyed the unraveling of our sweet natured, slightly pathetic, heavily drugged heroine as well as her unraveling of what was going on around her, despite my having to suspend my disbelief on various occasions. Good holiday read.
It's the same issue each time for me - having only half a dozen characters mean that the reader has slim pickings for "who dunnit" candidates, and in this one it was obvious from the get go.
Never mind, I enjoyed the unraveling of our sweet natured, slightly pathetic, heavily drugged heroine as well as her unraveling of what was going on around her, despite my having to suspend my disbelief on various occasions. Good holiday read.
oracleofdusk's review against another edition
A couple of disclaimers:
One, I received this book from a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. Second, I don't feel comfortable rating this book because of personal baggage I brought into it.
Let me explain and review at the same time. There's two main components to this book. Cass and her descent into a guilt-ridden psychosis and the actual mystery behind the death of the woman Cass saw on the side of the road. Both are well executed. The latter part--the mystery--hits you incredibly early, the stakes and confusion are promptly presented, and the figurative investigation unfolds at a good pace.
On the other hand, there's Cass. Cass is a well-fleshed out, realistic character. In fact, she reminds me of some of the people I went to high school with. Therein lies the problem. I did not get along with the people I went to high school with, and while characters don't need to be likeable or sympathetic to get you through a story, I can't deny that once I subconsciously made the connection, I became incredibly critical of the things Cass was doing. She seems to succumb to her own guilt far too quickly. She starts pulling away from reality by page 20 (and the font size on the book is relatively large) with seemingly no resistance. Yes, there are some people who would genuinely react that way, and this reaction is consistent with her character throughout the entire book, but I was already inclined to be frustrated with her.
The problem is that Cass is the main focus of this book. She is the lens through which the reader experiences the mystery. If you are already inclined to be critical of the window into that world, you are not going to fully enjoy the sight before you.
Do you see why I don't want to rate this book? It's properly executed. If you like the genre or the author, you will like this book, but the star system here are Goodreads is meant to be a subjective indicator of one's experience reading a book. I can honestly say my opinions on this book shouldn't be a factor in other people's decisions about whether or not to give this book a chance in the same way that my repeated struggle with the cover design shouldn't impact your decision. (There are black specs along the cover and inside flaps, and for some reason, I kept thinking they were some of the coffee grounds I had spilled that morning.)
In the end, I could risk this book become a sacrifice to the inherently flawed nature of star rating systems (albeit, in an incredibly small way), or I could write out a long and rather needless explanation of why this book has no ratings despite it being a First reads giveaway book. (While you don't have to star or review these books per the agreement you consent to when entering a giveaway, it seems in poor form not to, and I am already incredibly behind on that particular to read list.)
Point being, it is a well done book, and if you like the genre, I feel confident in saying you will like this book. I just wasn't inclined to like it.
One, I received this book from a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. Second, I don't feel comfortable rating this book because of personal baggage I brought into it.
Let me explain and review at the same time. There's two main components to this book. Cass and her descent into a guilt-ridden psychosis and the actual mystery behind the death of the woman Cass saw on the side of the road. Both are well executed. The latter part--the mystery--hits you incredibly early, the stakes and confusion are promptly presented, and the figurative investigation unfolds at a good pace.
On the other hand, there's Cass. Cass is a well-fleshed out, realistic character. In fact, she reminds me of some of the people I went to high school with. Therein lies the problem. I did not get along with the people I went to high school with, and while characters don't need to be likeable or sympathetic to get you through a story, I can't deny that once I subconsciously made the connection, I became incredibly critical of the things Cass was doing. She seems to succumb to her own guilt far too quickly. She starts pulling away from reality by page 20 (and the font size on the book is relatively large) with seemingly no resistance. Yes, there are some people who would genuinely react that way, and this reaction is consistent with her character throughout the entire book, but I was already inclined to be frustrated with her.
The problem is that Cass is the main focus of this book. She is the lens through which the reader experiences the mystery. If you are already inclined to be critical of the window into that world, you are not going to fully enjoy the sight before you.
Do you see why I don't want to rate this book? It's properly executed. If you like the genre or the author, you will like this book, but the star system here are Goodreads is meant to be a subjective indicator of one's experience reading a book. I can honestly say my opinions on this book shouldn't be a factor in other people's decisions about whether or not to give this book a chance in the same way that my repeated struggle with the cover design shouldn't impact your decision. (There are black specs along the cover and inside flaps, and for some reason, I kept thinking they were some of the coffee grounds I had spilled that morning.)
In the end, I could risk this book become a sacrifice to the inherently flawed nature of star rating systems (albeit, in an incredibly small way), or I could write out a long and rather needless explanation of why this book has no ratings despite it being a First reads giveaway book. (While you don't have to star or review these books per the agreement you consent to when entering a giveaway, it seems in poor form not to, and I am already incredibly behind on that particular to read list.)
Point being, it is a well done book, and if you like the genre, I feel confident in saying you will like this book. I just wasn't inclined to like it.
lady_icarus's review against another edition
5.0
After reading her first novel and being... disturbed by it, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read another by this author. I'm glad I did. she definitely writes messed up stories with so crazy plots but they're so... engrossing! This didn't disturb me nearly as much but it was still really good!
kb_toys's review against another edition
1.0
I can’t believe I didn’t DNF this one. B.A. Paris usually delivers with a twisty, interesting thriller but this was almost 400 pages of unfounded obsession, paranoia, and a really bad representation of dementia.
lisacaccamo's review against another edition
3.0
The book started off slow, but I stuck with it because I like B.A. Paris· If you can stick with it the end will not disappoint· Overall not her best effort.
tchatters's review against another edition
3.0
Much slower to get started than Behind Closed Doors. I nearly abandoned it three times because it just wasn't moving. However, I'm glad I stuck it out because the last 1/3 is very interesting, well crafted and twisty!
rovco's review against another edition
1.0
Had to skip the last half. Held out hope it wouldn't be the obvious "twists" but alas. Just a weird expression of drug dependence and mental health.
obsidian_blue's review against another edition
3.0
I do have to say that I liked parts of the book. I think the biggest reason why I only gave it 3 stars was that Cass seemed beyond ridiculous and naive at times. Can we get a strong female character in a suspense book for once who doesn't do things like go out into the dark in search of a killer? We women do have common sense. Also it didn't make a lot of sense to me why she didn't want to go to the police at first with what she knew. Finally, the ending went way too fast and I wanted more of a resolution especially after what we find out.
Cass is happily married to her husband Matthew. She's a teacher and about to enjoy the summer holidays. Though there are a couple of storm clouds in her life (her best friend Rachel doesn't like her husband, a colleague still has a crush on her, and she worries constantly she may have inherited her mother's early onset dementia). When Cass comes home through the woods on a stormy night, she sees a woman in a car. Cass stops to see if the woman needs help.
Okay right here I have to interject. This whole scene was beyond dumb. Cass stops, but doesn't get out of the car. Cause of the rain. So she feels annoyed the woman doesn't get out of her car and I really wanted to say why don't you back up and pull up beside her and roll down the window you moron. Sorry, sorry, still feeling the effects of the Dean Koontz book.
Anyway, Cass shrugs her shoulders and goes home. When she wakes up the next day her husband tells her that a woman was found down the road near their home murdered. And from there Cass starts to spiral. Guilt wares with her and she doesn't tell her friend or husband that she passed the woman and didn't help. When she finds out that she actually knew the dead woman, Jane Walters, she feels even more guilty especially since they actually met and then had dinner and drinks one evening. Cass doesn't go to the police because she's scared she will be blamed for not stopping (yeah I don't know either). As this is going on, Cass starts getting mysterious phone calls with no one speaking and she starts to feel as if she's losing her mind. She starts forgetting where her car is, upcoming appointments she agreed to, things she bought, and she starts to become afraid the killer is stalking her. She of course can't tell her husband or anyone else why she's afraid the killer is after her because then she would have to admit to not stopping. It's a never ending exhausting circle of being in Cass's head when she's making bad decisions.
So Cass is frustrating. I don't know what else to say about this. I saw big red flashing lights and wanted to tell her to wake the heck up. I get why she was scared to admit she may be forgetting some things and having it confirmed that she spoke to people, but doesn't recall the conversations. However, we go from that extreme to suddenly she's taking pills? I don't even know if there is medication for early onset dementia, but whatever she's taking make her just sleep all day and she is totally out of it. I think that Paris wrote it that way since she didn't know what else to do with Cass until we get to the 3/4 of the book. Also where are her supposed friends? We have Rachel occasionally calling, but Cass seems to be popular, how did no one check in on her or stop by? I get messages all day from my two best friends back home. And my family has our group chats and videos. It just felt a bit bizarre after a while.
The other characters are not very developed. We know that Cass loves her husband, and she talks about his looks, however, there doesn't seem to be much there. Does he like books? Does he like reading? What about them? What drew her to him and vice versa? Paris sets it up they met out one night, but I got nothing from the first meeting and just didn't get it.
Cass's best friend Rachel loves her and supports her, and doesn't like her husband. It's never said why, just they don't warm up to each other. I wonder how Cass never brings it up since it causes a lot of tension. Though Rachel was there for Cass when her mother got ill and supported her, the two friends seem to barely connect these days.
There's not many other people. We have the dead woman's husband, a friend of Cass's, and we find out the weird connection that Cass has to the murdered woman.
The writing was okay, but repetitive beyond belief after a while. I get that Cass is getting mysterious phone calls, that she's forgetting things, etc. That is a good 3/4 of this book. The overall mystery beyond who killed the woman on the side of the road is mostly ignored except for Cass deciding to push herself in on the woman's widow. I was hoping that Paris wasn't going for the ending I saw coming, but unfortunately she did. So I was also disappointed with the resolution of the murder mystery.
The flow was up and down. Even though Paris marks the chapters with date headings to show us the passage of time, it just felt like after a while we were skipping past whole weeks and just be with Cass as she is still scared and drugged out of her mind. Then when we get to the 3/4 of the book everything happens very quickly. The book throws so much information at you, that you don't even have a chance to process things. And then we get to Cass's hare-brained scheme and I just shook my head.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment. I don't know what else to say except I loathe guessing the bad guy(s) in book up front and I figured out what was likely going on about 20 percent into the book. I wanted there to be more closure considering what went on before hand.
Cass is happily married to her husband Matthew. She's a teacher and about to enjoy the summer holidays. Though there are a couple of storm clouds in her life (her best friend Rachel doesn't like her husband, a colleague still has a crush on her, and she worries constantly she may have inherited her mother's early onset dementia). When Cass comes home through the woods on a stormy night, she sees a woman in a car. Cass stops to see if the woman needs help.
Okay right here I have to interject. This whole scene was beyond dumb. Cass stops, but doesn't get out of the car. Cause of the rain. So she feels annoyed the woman doesn't get out of her car and I really wanted to say why don't you back up and pull up beside her and roll down the window you moron. Sorry, sorry, still feeling the effects of the Dean Koontz book.
Anyway, Cass shrugs her shoulders and goes home. When she wakes up the next day her husband tells her that a woman was found down the road near their home murdered. And from there Cass starts to spiral. Guilt wares with her and she doesn't tell her friend or husband that she passed the woman and didn't help. When she finds out that she actually knew the dead woman, Jane Walters, she feels even more guilty especially since they actually met and then had dinner and drinks one evening. Cass doesn't go to the police because she's scared she will be blamed for not stopping (yeah I don't know either). As this is going on, Cass starts getting mysterious phone calls with no one speaking and she starts to feel as if she's losing her mind. She starts forgetting where her car is, upcoming appointments she agreed to, things she bought, and she starts to become afraid the killer is stalking her. She of course can't tell her husband or anyone else why she's afraid the killer is after her because then she would have to admit to not stopping. It's a never ending exhausting circle of being in Cass's head when she's making bad decisions.
So Cass is frustrating. I don't know what else to say about this. I saw big red flashing lights and wanted to tell her to wake the heck up. I get why she was scared to admit she may be forgetting some things and having it confirmed that she spoke to people, but doesn't recall the conversations. However, we go from that extreme to suddenly she's taking pills? I don't even know if there is medication for early onset dementia, but whatever she's taking make her just sleep all day and she is totally out of it. I think that Paris wrote it that way since she didn't know what else to do with Cass until we get to the 3/4 of the book. Also where are her supposed friends? We have Rachel occasionally calling, but Cass seems to be popular, how did no one check in on her or stop by? I get messages all day from my two best friends back home. And my family has our group chats and videos. It just felt a bit bizarre after a while.
The other characters are not very developed. We know that Cass loves her husband, and she talks about his looks, however, there doesn't seem to be much there. Does he like books? Does he like reading? What about them? What drew her to him and vice versa? Paris sets it up they met out one night, but I got nothing from the first meeting and just didn't get it.
Cass's best friend Rachel loves her and supports her, and doesn't like her husband. It's never said why, just they don't warm up to each other. I wonder how Cass never brings it up since it causes a lot of tension. Though Rachel was there for Cass when her mother got ill and supported her, the two friends seem to barely connect these days.
There's not many other people. We have the dead woman's husband, a friend of Cass's, and we find out the weird connection that Cass has to the murdered woman.
The writing was okay, but repetitive beyond belief after a while. I get that Cass is getting mysterious phone calls, that she's forgetting things, etc. That is a good 3/4 of this book. The overall mystery beyond who killed the woman on the side of the road is mostly ignored except for Cass deciding to push herself in on the woman's widow. I was hoping that Paris wasn't going for the ending I saw coming, but unfortunately she did. So I was also disappointed with the resolution of the murder mystery.
The flow was up and down. Even though Paris marks the chapters with date headings to show us the passage of time, it just felt like after a while we were skipping past whole weeks and just be with Cass as she is still scared and drugged out of her mind. Then when we get to the 3/4 of the book everything happens very quickly. The book throws so much information at you, that you don't even have a chance to process things. And then we get to Cass's hare-brained scheme and I just shook my head.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment. I don't know what else to say except I loathe guessing the bad guy(s) in book up front and I figured out what was likely going on about 20 percent into the book. I wanted there to be more closure considering what went on before hand.