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A review by simonrtaylor
August by Gabrielle Lord
4.0
August picks up where July left off and keeps up the phenomenal pace and tone established in its predecessor. I’ve made my criticisms of the Conspiracy 365 series before, but Lord has truly hit her stride.
There were few fillers in this edition, and some more substantial plot developments. The hospital escape sequence is one of my favourites of the series.
Boges and Winter are also really coming into their own. The trio have formed a charming and likeable group. Their scenes in the cemetery are highlights of their tenure, and Winter’s relationship with both Cal and Boges continues to intrigue.
This time round, we felt Cal’s frustration in his scenes with the policeman and his mum and Rafe. The doppelgänger sequence is also fabulous and, despite almost collapsing with exasperation when they realise at long last who the hell he is, I’m excited by this thread now.
One very fair criticism has been of the formulaic cliffhanger endings. No matter what horrifying certain death Cal faces at a second to midnight on the last day of the month, we all know he’ll be conveniently (if unbelievably) rescued at about ten past twelve on the 1st.
After seven rounds of the same, Lord finally twigs and gets her own back by throwing in one belter of an ending. It’s not Cal’s mortality at stake and there is no knowing how this will play out. The sudden twist and sharp finish will leave you shaken until September.
There were few fillers in this edition, and some more substantial plot developments. The hospital escape sequence is one of my favourites of the series.
Boges and Winter are also really coming into their own. The trio have formed a charming and likeable group. Their scenes in the cemetery are highlights of their tenure, and Winter’s relationship with both Cal and Boges continues to intrigue.
This time round, we felt Cal’s frustration in his scenes with the policeman and his mum and Rafe. The doppelgänger sequence is also fabulous and, despite almost collapsing with exasperation when they realise at long last who the hell he is, I’m excited by this thread now.
One very fair criticism has been of the formulaic cliffhanger endings. No matter what horrifying certain death Cal faces at a second to midnight on the last day of the month, we all know he’ll be conveniently (if unbelievably) rescued at about ten past twelve on the 1st.
After seven rounds of the same, Lord finally twigs and gets her own back by throwing in one belter of an ending. It’s not Cal’s mortality at stake and there is no knowing how this will play out. The sudden twist and sharp finish will leave you shaken until September.