A review by cozylittlebrownhouse
They Did Bad Things: A Thriller by Lauren A. Forry
3.0
Thank you NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade Crimewise for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
Six university students move in together for a house share at the start of the school year, but months later, one is found dead on the living room sofa following a party. The police rule the death accidental, but the five remaining housemates know what happened that night, and move on with their lives, keeping this secret.
Twenty years later, they are lured to Wolfheather House under various pretenses, for a weekend away at a secluded mansion. As they are cut off from the outside world and escape, they are murdered one-by-one and forced to confront their past and determine who has brought them together for revenge.
Liked:
- The plot had a Clue-meets-And Then There Were None-feel to it, but got a little nutty towards the end.
- I loved the setting of Wolfheather House and could imagine this crumbling old building tucked away on a Scottish isle.
- The story had a bit of a slow burn that I was fine with, but if you're looking for a quick page-turner, I don't think this will be for you.
Didn't Like:
- I had a VERY hard time keeping the female characters straight - this could just be my brain right now, but for some reason I struggled with who was who and who did what.
- The time jumps were frequent and sometimes jarring.
- The ending was a bit outlandish, but I am always willing to overlook this in the presence of amazing storytelling.
Three stars - liked, didn't love.
Six university students move in together for a house share at the start of the school year, but months later, one is found dead on the living room sofa following a party. The police rule the death accidental, but the five remaining housemates know what happened that night, and move on with their lives, keeping this secret.
Twenty years later, they are lured to Wolfheather House under various pretenses, for a weekend away at a secluded mansion. As they are cut off from the outside world and escape, they are murdered one-by-one and forced to confront their past and determine who has brought them together for revenge.
Liked:
- The plot had a Clue-meets-And Then There Were None-feel to it, but got a little nutty towards the end.
- I loved the setting of Wolfheather House and could imagine this crumbling old building tucked away on a Scottish isle.
- The story had a bit of a slow burn that I was fine with, but if you're looking for a quick page-turner, I don't think this will be for you.
Didn't Like:
- I had a VERY hard time keeping the female characters straight - this could just be my brain right now, but for some reason I struggled with who was who and who did what.
- The time jumps were frequent and sometimes jarring.
- The ending was a bit outlandish, but I am always willing to overlook this in the presence of amazing storytelling.
Three stars - liked, didn't love.