Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Η γυναίκα στη βιβλιοθήκη by Sulari Gentill

58 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.5

A murder mystery within a murder mystery, this is a solid thriller. The real killer was hiding in plain sight and was so painfully obvious that I didn’t even consider them as a candidate. The characters are mostly likeable and diverse. The plot is believable. The end was good but arrived to with little pomp or circumstance. There are some glaring spelling/grammar mistakes throughout that are a bit annoying but all in all a solid book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gore, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Stalking, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Racism, and Toxic friendship

j_squaredd's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Violence, and Gun violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Alcoholism

halebugs's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, and Stalking

Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Gun violence, and Child death

angela005's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Child abuse, Medical content, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

madisonfrank's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, and Stalking

kcelena's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse

stampest's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Rape

pamshenanigans's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC! 

I absolutely loved Sulari Gentill’s When She Wrote Him (which I also recommend if you’re looking for a thriller/mystery that’s also so meta) so I had no doubt in mind to add this to my to-read list when I saw the announcement for The Woman in the Library and when the ARC was made available on Netgalley! 

I can confidently say that this mystery novel is also meta (books about books!) which I love about it. Despite having a similar vein of execution with When She Wrote Him, I’m glad that this didn’t completely disappoint me. The basic premise is: 

1. An author, Hannah, is writing a mystery novel set in America while seemingly living in Australia
2. Said author is in correspondence with an aspiring author and fan, Leo, who gives her tips upon reading the chapters of her manuscript
3. The way the book pans out is we read the chapters of the mystery novel Hannah is writing then it ends with an email from Leo
4. The mystery novel takes place around Boston and the murder happens in the Boston Public Library.
5. One of the main characters of Hannah’s book is an aspiring writer and one of the characters is named Leo inspired by Hannah’s real-life encounter with her “pen pal”. This makes it so meta because it’s a book about a book about an aspiring writer. 🤯 Reading this alone may make it sound confusing, but upon reading it, it’s not.

The way the chapters of Hannah’s draft and the email exchange with Leo and how these two are still connected made for a very interesting read. It was messed up but not confusing. I can’t confirm the accuracy of the American details (Hannah is supposed to be Australian and Leo would correct her manuscript about details about America), but it’s okay FOR ME, since I didn’t those details didn’t affect the plot and writing anyway.
 
While I didn’t like what the twist was and how it ended, I still can’t wait for what Sulari Gentill will write next!
 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Gun violence

arthur_ant18's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Stalking

Moderate: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, and Child abuse

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Incest

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book wasn't really my thing. I didn't love the formatting of the one-sided letters, and I really didn't prefer the mansplaining coming from Lee and the weird mentions of the social justice movements. And I didn't really wanted to be reminded of the pandemic. The plot felt kind of like a video game - the points a little clunky. Just not really my cup of tea. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Murder, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Grief, Gun violence, Confinement, Classism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Domestic abuse