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vynna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I was pretty bored throughout this book and it wasn’t until the 75% mark that I started to get excited. I found the main character unlikeable and didn’t really form an attachment to her or any other character. I also felt some of her actions were completely illogical which took me out of the story a couple of times. BUT I was invested in the mystery and was satisfied with the final climax and looooved the little twist. (The flashbacks were in Jenessa’s POV 😱) So what I originally thought to be a mediocre read actually surprised me in the end.
jane_kelsey's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the first half, but then the story kinda lost me, so I also lost interest with it... saw a spoiler for the ending and I don't feel like I missed a lot.
aprilalwayswithabook's review against another edition
4.0
Read for a book club, this was one of the more compelling reads that I've read for that particular book club. It's been awhile since I've read a straight thriller and I forgot how enjoyable they can be. I have forgotten how to flex my whodunnit muscles, because I picked the wrong dunnit until the end.
meganac's review against another edition
5.0
Riveting murder mystery
I wasn't sure how I wanted to rate this, but after some thought I really don't have any complaints... besides the main character continually putting herself in incriminating positions, self sabotaging, and a few writing flaws (how does one sit on a couch so that springs press into their face?)
It takes all the riveting details of crime that you just can't look away from and offers them not only to the reader but to Marissa Claire Mo as well — it's a fascinating dynamic that holds your attention all the way through, especially with no clear suspect at hand for the string of murders. I also appreciated the accurate portrayal of the effects of trauma in the characters, as well as they developed throughout the book.
I wasn't sure how I wanted to rate this, but after some thought I really don't have any complaints... besides the main character continually putting herself in incriminating positions, self sabotaging, and a few writing flaws (how does one sit on a couch so that springs press into their face?)
It takes all the riveting details of crime that you just can't look away from and offers them not only to the reader but to Marissa Claire Mo as well — it's a fascinating dynamic that holds your attention all the way through, especially with no clear suspect at hand for the string of murders. I also appreciated the accurate portrayal of the effects of trauma in the characters, as well as they developed throughout the book.
teyn's review against another edition
4.0
Like a dark version of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Quite good but also quite triggering, approach with caution.
wrenl's review against another edition
3.0
To be honest, this was more of a mystery than I thought it’d be. I’ve read lots of family trauma stories, and most of them deal with trauma, but this one involved Marissa/Claire following the murders. To be honest, I wasn’t sure who the murderer was, so I was along for the ride. I really enjoyed watching Marissa/Claire piece things together. But the reveal of who was the murderer was a bit dissatisfying. It wasn’t something that made sense given the context. I admit that there were other twists that I liked, though. They made sense and added a lot of depth to Marissa/Claire’s character.
This book is a mystery rooted in trauma. Which could be your cup of tea. But I never felt connected to the characters, and although I liked the mystery, it wasn’t enough mystery to win me over.
This book is a mystery rooted in trauma. Which could be your cup of tea. But I never felt connected to the characters, and although I liked the mystery, it wasn’t enough mystery to win me over.
liz_in_vividcolor's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
alibi313's review
2.0
So poorly written and plotted, I’m a little mad at myself for finishing it just to find out who the killer was. At least I have enough sense to remove any more books from this author from my “to read” list, as they’d only annoy me.