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themoodreader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
andra_mihaela_s's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Torture, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Grief, and Gaslighting
danaslitlist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This is a fast paced, rather predictable crime thriller that follows our main character Gwen and her two children as they try to settle down with new aliases in a small town while hiding from their past lives.
I finished this book in an afternoon so when I say this was a quick read, I mean it. I also mean when I say this was very predictable for me, I figured out who the bad guy was as soon as he was introduced to us. However I was still entertained enough to speed read it and that’s mainly because of the main character. Caine is a good writer and the book is well written. It doesn’t feel cheap even if it is predictable
This book also has a bit of a pacing problem where we get stuck in the monotony of the author detailing daily life. It would be a stretch to say that she was trying to show us how tiring that monotony is and I think it was just filler that could’ve been cut out.
The ending also endured an eye roll from me because this does not need to be a series and absolutely relies on the reader distancing themselves from reality to make certain plot points make sense. I won’t be reading any more of the series and I wish the author would’ve stopped while she was ahead.
(Spoilers under the cut explaining the plot point I have an issue with).
My original theory was that Graham was trying to get to something in the safe room and to do so was framing Gwen for murder due to convenience. Instead it’s revealed that he’s just a copy cat obsessed with her husband’s murders…which feels very cookie cutter. Which to me is worse than being predictable. It all ends with the news that said ex husband has escape prison in an attempt to entice the reader to continue the series.
I think the idea of the bad guy being a copycat killer just to impress the original is….dull and in this situation there were so many other reasons why Gwen could’ve been targeted to make the book more thrilling. A lot of reasons are given earlier are given in the book itself. So having Graham just be….a weaker version of her husband was a let down and ultimately removed all tension that had built up.
I mean I get that the husband has people who are helping him and one is helping from the inside the prison supposedly but he’s in a high security prison and on death row…..how the hell did he escape?? It just ridiculous.
At this point I feel like this is take a good concept and turning it into a soap opera crime novel.
If you’re looking for a fast read and a plot that feels reminiscent of an episode of Law and Order or Criminal Minds (though not that dark) I think you’d probably like this one.
I finished this book in an afternoon so when I say this was a quick read, I mean it. I also mean when I say this was very predictable for me, I figured out who the bad guy was as soon as he was introduced to us. However I was still entertained enough to speed read it and that’s mainly because of the main character. Caine is a good writer and the book is well written. It doesn’t feel cheap even if it is predictable
This book also has a bit of a pacing problem where we get stuck in the monotony of the author detailing daily life. It would be a stretch to say that she was trying to show us how tiring that monotony is and I think it was just filler that could’ve been cut out.
The ending also endured an eye roll from me because this does not need to be a series and absolutely relies on the reader distancing themselves from reality to make certain plot points make sense. I won’t be reading any more of the series and I wish the author would’ve stopped while she was ahead.
(Spoilers under the cut explaining the plot point I have an issue with).
My original theory was that Graham was trying to get to something in the safe room and to do so was framing Gwen for murder due to convenience. Instead it’s revealed that he’s just a copy cat obsessed with her husband’s murders…which feels very cookie cutter. Which to me is worse than being predictable. It all ends with the news that said ex husband has escape prison in an attempt to entice the reader to continue the series.
I think the idea of the bad guy being a copycat killer just to impress the original is….dull and in this situation there were so many other reasons why Gwen could’ve been targeted to make the book more thrilling. A lot of reasons are given earlier are given in the book itself. So having Graham just be….a weaker version of her husband was a let down and ultimately removed all tension that had built up.
I mean I get that the husband has people who are helping him and one is helping from the inside the prison supposedly but he’s in a high security prison and on death row…..how the hell did he escape?? It just ridiculous.
At this point I feel like this is take a good concept and turning it into a soap opera crime novel.
If you’re looking for a fast read and a plot that feels reminiscent of an episode of Law and Order or Criminal Minds (though not that dark) I think you’d probably like this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Stalking, and Murder
halesbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
dalmavatai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was disappointing - boring and repetitive until the end at which point it kind of devolves into an action movie with a reveal that I didn't predict only because I thought that it would be too obvious. The cliffhanger was kind of interesting though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism
atalea's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
Minor: Kidnapping
dianna_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
marleens's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The atmosphere in this book was so tense that I had to stop reading every once in a while because it really got to me. Really well done! I loved the main character’s voice and really felt like I was inside her head. All her decisions made sense and I was as scared and paranoid as she was. You could say I guessed some twists but that was mostly because I didn’t trust anybody we met along the way, so of course some of those ‘this person is bad’ guesses were going to be correct… The last few chapters really made my heart race. I listened to this on audio and the audio was well done too. Definitely continuing this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Stalking, and Murder
greatestheights's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5 stars and PHEW what a ride. This was exactly the kind of thriller I've been craving — well-written, good character development, tension, and a satisfying conclusion. I immediately found the next book in the series and will be starting it immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
whitneyonline's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What really sold me on the 5-star rating was the ending. I enjoyed how it was almost a psychological thriller - Gwen literally cannot trust anyone, but she also knows she can't keep ripping up her kids, moving from town to town. But is staying in one place truly safe...?
The last 15% was so jam-packed with tension and action written so well, I could picture it crystal clear in my head. I was clinging to every word, reading furiously to see what would happen. This book also struck me as feminist, which I enjoyed. While I still have some questions regarding certain characters, they don't detract from the overall experience and my questions might be answered in the next book.
The last 15% was so jam-packed with tension and action written so well, I could picture it crystal clear in my head. I was clinging to every word, reading furiously to see what would happen. This book also struck me as feminist, which I enjoyed. While I still have some questions regarding certain characters, they don't detract from the overall experience and my questions might be answered in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Grief, and Murder