Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Family Business by Jonathan Sims

3 reviews

iamastraythought's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Mr. Sims you have done it again. Diverse in that way that isn't really mentioned, horrifying in both a soul crushing and mundane way. 

this book is like the lonely on steroids. Of course it's a separate media, but all the same.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide, Addiction, Body horror, Cancer, Stalking, and Mental illness

Minor: Bullying

ratgerry's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Jonathan Sims does it again, demonstrating his skill in crafting a mystery that gradually comes together, sharpens, and builds towards an exhilaratingly horrifying finale. Beyond that, I never expected a horror novel to inspire me to seek out community and connect more closely with the people around me, but this one did it. 
My only point of critique is that

Mr Bill's Memory Prisons at the end

felt a little underexplored and like a slightly rushed addition for Plot Convenience, but not enough to break my suspension of disbelief.
All in all a ride that I could hardly put down!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Gore, Grief, Blood, and Stalking

Minor: Suicide, Bullying, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Excrement, and Vomit

fraeyalise's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I want to like this book so much more because I like the author, but this book has some of the same problems as Thirteen Storeys. The characters felt one dimensional to me, except Diya. I could see where the book was going, and the reveals felt flat as a result. There seemed to be an underlying message about those who fall through the cracks in society but it wasn't quite fleshed out, and felt half-baked. The story and writing is a bit clunky at times. 

Positives: some of the imagery is really creepy, and some of the descriptions are really well done. It has a neat premise. The cat doesn't die. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide and Cursing

Minor: Bullying