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nfarrell24's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Drug use
bookishgoob's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence
roncanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, and Drug use
Minor: Bullying
grimviolins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
coolbeancat's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, and Pregnancy
isagomezs04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, and Kidnapping
Minor: Mental illness, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
genny's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
David, though. David. He was incredibly annoying. I'm sorry, I get it, he's a teenager with personal issues, but I just cannot stand his "romance" with Stevie. Even the two of them couldn't explain why their relationship existed in the first place, haha. I dreaded their interactions. They never even addressed their problems
I still really enjoyed this and would be happy to read the next book. A fresh new mystery for Stevie sounds great.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping
Minor: Drug use
kb_sherman's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
crunchycrystals's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Death
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
mariekejee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
It's entertaining - but as a YA novel with teenagers as protagonists, it's also a bit horrifying. I'm usually not too bothered by people dying in these typical mystery novels (I was promised murder and I will be disappointed if I don't <i>get</i> murder, ya hear me), but the idea that two kids died in such an awful, sad way is horrifying.
I enjoyed the flashbacks to 1936, and getting to know these characters involved in the Ellingham case. The David plot line/romance is still a bit hit-or-miss for me (although I am such a sucker for the "two people are fighting but they're trapped somewhere and might not get out so they need to sort out their shit" trope). Stevie is still an irresponsible little shit sometimes and I don't understand how these adults don't keep her locked up somewhere but it makes for a fun read, at least. Speaking of irresponsible: what is the deal with Germaine? The story wants me to believe she
Oh well, teenage antics aside, this was a good book. If you're into mystery stories and don't get queasy by a little underage murder, then I'd recommend this series. The cliffhangers are a bit unfair, but they kept me reading. The tension keeps building throughout the series and although it takes 1000 pages for the mystery to be completely resolved, it's worth it in the end and I'm glad I kept reading. Maybe I'll even pick up more of Johnson's books! Who knows.
Graphic: Murder, Kidnapping, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Gun violence and Drug use