A review by tew_11
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Overall I liked the story and I think the horror was well done. There were bits that left me feeling edgy and watching the shadows as I went to bed that night. I enjoyed Sara and Martin's chapters more than the interludes into the present. I like Ruthie and Fawn and thought their relationship plus "investigation" together was good but Katherine and Candace's story lines felt unnecessary.
I think the book would have been the same (or even better off) without Katherine's storyline. I understand Candace and ...
Spoilerher connection to Ruthie (and Gertie) but even this bit of plot didn't feel necessary. I like the intrigue of Ruthie being connected to Sara and Gertie and the legends surrounding that family but it didn't really play a part into the plot overall.
Oh, and don't even get me started on Auntie.
Spoiler Auntie was done so dirty. Her betrayal of Sara and murder of Gertie seemed so out of the blue to me. Her transformation into a villain made her into a token character when I felt like she could have been more. Like come on, Native American women shares the secrets of bringing the dead back to life and then subsequently becomes the villian and kills a child?? Dude...
 
I did like the story over all and the scares and developed relationships (Martin and Sara were tragic and I wish there was more to their story) so I give it a solid 3.25. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings