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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I made it halfway through Tana French's The Likeness and gave up because nothing had happened yet, nothing interesting at least. Plus there was the very implausible plot, and the central characters who were all less interesting versions of the central group from The Secret History. This book was more engaging, even if it did take about as long for the main mystery to get underway. I like books that deal with a past that the central character can't remember. It's fun to watch a character puzzle out that mystery. I feel like every character here though was about half as developed as they could be. There's a lot of potential in Toby and his cousins and his uncle, but ultimately they just aren't as fully formed as I would have liked, especially for such a long book. I also really disliked the final act of this book, which is the kind of twist some people will like, but to me seemed unnecessary and a bit out of character for the particular character involved, although I think that French means it to be the exact opposite. Of course, there's a lot of good stuff too, definitely a page-turner, and I would imagine better than many other thrillers out there.
...what?
The trouble with positioning a thriller like this from the perspective of civilians rather than detective means that a TON of the book is spent...sitting and talking rather than investigating. There were parts of this I really loved, but I'm looking forward to her next Dublin Murder Squad book, for sure.
The trouble with positioning a thriller like this from the perspective of civilians rather than detective means that a TON of the book is spent...sitting and talking rather than investigating. There were parts of this I really loved, but I'm looking forward to her next Dublin Murder Squad book, for sure.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just a 500 page ramble about PTSD. ‘The Witch Elm’ was nothing related to the name. Very disappointed.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Boring. Got almost 100 pages in and the damn skull hasn’t even been found. Got the whole story spoiled anyway. Will try again with Tana, just not this one.
Would have loved to have given this four stars and truly it was a four star book there for me until chapter 12. We had a tidy story and a smooth ending and then BAM, lets put in chapter 12 and start a new story and make it go all choppy and drag the story down to a two and a half star rating. It's equivalent to getting a Cracker Jack box and hoping for the coolest toy and end up getting a stupid stick on tattoo. Oh and why is the book called the Witch Elm? there is no witch (bummer) when it's about a Wych elm. That's a bit of click bait to me or buy this book bait.
Spoiler
Seems that putting bodies in Wych Elem’s is not an unlikely occurrence. Now I must look into the case of a lady named Bella who was stashed in a Wych elm, bet I can find that book thru Goodreads.
I understand the mixed reviews. This is not French's most enjoyable book, not her best. But I will remember it for a long time. Again, French has developed characters that you know intimately by the end of the book. Again, they are flawed and knowable, not always lovable, but true. I wept at times, and I almost never cry when reading. I was on the edge of my chair at times, and was riveted through the last two hundreds pages.
I feel rewarded by the reading. French tells a rich story. There is real depth here. As another reviewers noted, French has something to show us about family and friendship. For that, I am grateful.
I feel rewarded by the reading. French tells a rich story. There is real depth here. As another reviewers noted, French has something to show us about family and friendship. For that, I am grateful.
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes