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msbedelia's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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
3.25
paulabrandon's review against another edition
3.0
After a very laborious start, in which Hannah spends an inordinate amount of time describing everything at the resort and what the resort offers (she must have taken a trip to a resort herself and claimed it on tax), this settles into an interesting, diverting mystery thriller. Cara Burrows is a wife and mother who takes off from England to Arizona in the US, for a stay at a fancy resort, after her husband and kids' selfish response to her pregnancy. She is sent to the wrong room by the receptionist, as there is a man and a young girl already in there!
It's not until later, when Cara overhears an old woman at the resort claiming that she saw Melody Chapa running around, that she does some investigating, and learns that Melody Chapa went missing seven years ago, presumed dead, a crime for which her parents are now in prison. But indeed, the young girl that Cara saw in that room was Melody Chapa! Can she trust what she saw? Is Melody actually still alive, and if so, how could this be?
Sophie Hanna typically comes up with intriguing plots, but has difficulty sticking the landing, when trying to make all the disparate plot events and character actions come together believably. Here, she does much better than usual, with a fairly streamlined plot and a mostly credible "why" behind it all. (No, "I did it because I hate Kindles," nonsense here!) It also helped, for me, that this was a standalone, and not part of the Culver Valley series, so thankfully free of the increasingly stupid and inane subplots involving the Culver Valley detectives.
I enjoyed the larger-than-life characters of Tarin Fry and Bonnie Juno. Although Cara is a bit of a ninny, and her actions in taking off to another country (!) are questionable, we at least get some understanding of her reasoning. I also liked Tarin's snarky daughter, Zellie. I'm not sure why we got all that detail about one of the detectives apparently being a corrupt schemer, as it never went anywhere and had zero impact on the plot.
I'm also not a fan of Hannah's propensity towards cozy mystery type scenarios where the characters all sit around and discuss plot points and theories. It feels a bit Agatha Christie. I know she's ghost-writing Agatha Christie books at the moment, but she should be keeping that style separate from these more modern mystery thrillers. Also, the attempt at a final twist in the last chapter fell flat. It didn't match anything that we had learned before that point. Too many authors just don't seem to know to stop while the going's good!
Did You See Melody/ was nonetheless a mostly enjoyable thriller that kept me interested in finding out what was going on, and had some memorable, enjoyable characters to boot.
It's not until later, when Cara overhears an old woman at the resort claiming that she saw Melody Chapa running around, that she does some investigating, and learns that Melody Chapa went missing seven years ago, presumed dead, a crime for which her parents are now in prison. But indeed, the young girl that Cara saw in that room was Melody Chapa! Can she trust what she saw? Is Melody actually still alive, and if so, how could this be?
Sophie Hanna typically comes up with intriguing plots, but has difficulty sticking the landing, when trying to make all the disparate plot events and character actions come together believably. Here, she does much better than usual, with a fairly streamlined plot and a mostly credible "why" behind it all. (No, "I did it because I hate Kindles," nonsense here!) It also helped, for me, that this was a standalone, and not part of the Culver Valley series, so thankfully free of the increasingly stupid and inane subplots involving the Culver Valley detectives.
I enjoyed the larger-than-life characters of Tarin Fry and Bonnie Juno. Although Cara is a bit of a ninny, and her actions in taking off to another country (!) are questionable, we at least get some understanding of her reasoning. I also liked Tarin's snarky daughter, Zellie. I'm not sure why we got all that detail about one of the detectives apparently being a corrupt schemer, as it never went anywhere and had zero impact on the plot.
I'm also not a fan of Hannah's propensity towards cozy mystery type scenarios where the characters all sit around and discuss plot points and theories. It feels a bit Agatha Christie. I know she's ghost-writing Agatha Christie books at the moment, but she should be keeping that style separate from these more modern mystery thrillers. Also, the attempt at a final twist in the last chapter fell flat. It didn't match anything that we had learned before that point. Too many authors just don't seem to know to stop while the going's good!
Did You See Melody/ was nonetheless a mostly enjoyable thriller that kept me interested in finding out what was going on, and had some memorable, enjoyable characters to boot.
lisaar91's review against another edition
4.0
In received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I've read a couple other Sophie Hannah books before and although I've enjoyed them. I haven't been overwhelmed.
This one was different.
The book is set in Arizona and is about cara from England who's having family issues, so ups and leaves to a five star so resort across the world. She takes a lot of guilt with her
Sightings across the resort of a previously declared murdered, young girl, is where the book gets exciting!
A twist that you don't expect until it's there! And likeable characters.
My one complaint... sooo many character names towards the second half that I was getting a little confused
But a great read!!
I've read a couple other Sophie Hannah books before and although I've enjoyed them. I haven't been overwhelmed.
This one was different.
The book is set in Arizona and is about cara from England who's having family issues, so ups and leaves to a five star so resort across the world. She takes a lot of guilt with her
Sightings across the resort of a previously declared murdered, young girl, is where the book gets exciting!
A twist that you don't expect until it's there! And likeable characters.
My one complaint... sooo many character names towards the second half that I was getting a little confused
But a great read!!
syringaflower's review against another edition
2.0
The first part was okay, just your average thriller. But somewhere along the way it just became so incredibly unbelievable and far fetched.
It doesn't help that the constant interruptions written in interview style were a literal drag to get through. It's sad.
It doesn't help that the constant interruptions written in interview style were a literal drag to get through. It's sad.
kerrianne10's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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
4.0
hkburke2's review against another edition
3.5
This didn't hang together super well for me, and I disagreed with some of how the US legal system was described (juries don't work like that?)... So maybe I just like the narrator? Although I never want to hear her say the word "casita" again...
suelu13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ladylizardxvii's review against another edition
2.0
What a strange but interesting premise and story! The plot follows English Cara as she uncovers the story of murder victim Melody Chapa in the United States. But honestly, the most compelling part of the book were the pieces of the murder, investigation & trial that happened 7 years prior. I found myself wishing that I were just reading that story instead of the present day one that was unfolding. Plus, this was intended to be a thriller, but I never felt like the stakes were high or that Cara was in any real danger. I was excited by the unique premise but disappointed by the execution.
kellylacey's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't read the back of the book before starting, I just went to my NetGalley books which have been neglected and picked one. Boy oh boy, what a doozy of a pick. It was my first Sophie Hannah book, it won't be my last. If I were in a bookstore now and saw one of her books I would buy it without any thought. Why? Because she is a such a good storyteller. Her talented way of building the story up with the perfect pace and suspense, when you think you have it figured out she just laughs at you and throws in another road that you never saw coming. This book will keep you up at night, make you late for work, you might even miss your train stop. A terrific mystery thriller with more turns and twists than the Pepsi roller coaster at Blackpool (wait is that still there?).
The characters are individually memorable, they each have their own unique identities all flawed in some way, as all humans are. The are all colourful, none are beige and blending wall flowers. They all have a purpose and a strong voice.
I don't have any negative points, the pace was good, I had no parts I had to skim. I loved the television show dialogue it was a great way to get the important required information to the reader in a very cleverly thought out format.
The characters are individually memorable, they each have their own unique identities all flawed in some way, as all humans are. The are all colourful, none are beige and blending wall flowers. They all have a purpose and a strong voice.
I don't have any negative points, the pace was good, I had no parts I had to skim. I loved the television show dialogue it was a great way to get the important required information to the reader in a very cleverly thought out format.