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akshade's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide attempt
ksilvio's review
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Torture
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, and Stalking
emory's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
A fine concept spoiled by the author's seeming aversion to saying anything concrete or stepping out of the standard mystery thriller cookie cutter.
The concept was extremely intriguing, and what makes it most disappointing is that one of the false flag tracks that the main character tries to investigate--the only one, actually, before stumbling into the real answer with two "and then it hits me" sentences following paragraphs that in no way lead into her wild conclusions that just so happen to be correct--would have presented a much more interesting and absorbing read. <Spoiler> The man obsessed with collection as a form of manipulation in the art world and the way that would tie into the feminist statements Kim Lord was seeking to make would have made for a much better, contemplative, genuinely intriguing story! Hummel, though, does not flesh out the feminist aspect of her character's work at all, constantly mentioning it but failing to explain how the grisly art exhibit she's concocted would involve feminist theory at all. In fact, the book tread the same trail of sensationalizing and aestheticizing themurder of a woman in the same way that Hummel's artist was supposedly criticizing in some out of touch way, and there are very disrespectful statements about an antagonist who is sharing her experience with sexual abuse, as well as a ludicrous rant about the women in the book being lost and stagnant because of their status as unmarried, working women. The language describing a character revealed to be pregnant is strange and reductive. And instead of any analysis or discussion on the art world, or female objectification, or the relationship between gender and true crime, or anything else you'd think this book would mention more than once, we get the standard 'the jealous crazy woman did it... but this time it's the one you wouldn't expect!' , delivered to us at perhaps the slowest pace of any mystery thriller I've ever read, with a staggering amount of indistinguishable and superfluous characters and cheap twists and turns.
This book is not without it's merit. The voice of the main character is very distinct and believable, if a bit corny at times. And despite the frilly and ridiculous habit of ending a paragraph with an italicized fragment of what she was just talking about, Hummel is very skilled at setting the scene and mood. Had this been a noir novel taking place in 20th century LA, I would've been extremely impressed. The research on the city glowed through the actual plot, and the settings became their own characters. The times when the protagonist was describing her bygone days as a crime journalist were gripping in their remorse and mysteriousness.
I do think this book exceeds it's mission within the thriller genre, but I wish the author had taken her very compelling ideas to a more interesting conclusion and turned the genre on its head, made the book mean something rather than striving for a gripping afternoon read. But on its mediocre objective, it did deliver.
The concept was extremely intriguing, and what makes it most disappointing is that one of the false flag tracks that the main character tries to investigate--the only one, actually, before stumbling into the real answer with two "and then it hits me" sentences following paragraphs that in no way lead into her wild conclusions that just so happen to be correct--would have presented a much more interesting and absorbing read. <Spoiler> The man obsessed with collection as a form of manipulation in the art world and the way that would tie into the feminist statements Kim Lord was seeking to make would have made for a much better, contemplative, genuinely intriguing story! Hummel, though, does not flesh out the feminist aspect of her character's work at all, constantly mentioning it but failing to explain how the grisly art exhibit she's concocted would involve feminist theory at all. In fact, the book tread the same trail of sensationalizing and aestheticizing the
This book is not without it's merit. The voice of the main character is very distinct and believable, if a bit corny at times. And despite the frilly and ridiculous habit of ending a paragraph with an italicized fragment of what she was just talking about, Hummel is very skilled at setting the scene and mood. Had this been a noir novel taking place in 20th century LA, I would've been extremely impressed. The research on the city glowed through the actual plot, and the settings became their own characters. The times when the protagonist was describing her bygone days as a crime journalist were gripping in their remorse and mysteriousness.
I do think this book exceeds it's mission within the thriller genre, but I wish the author had taken her very compelling ideas to a more interesting conclusion and turned the genre on its head, made the book mean something rather than striving for a gripping afternoon read. But on its mediocre objective, it did deliver.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Misogyny, and Stalking
Moderate: Gore, Suicide attempt, and Violence
gracedunne's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Suicide attempt and Mental illness
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