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cmqsf's review
mysterious
fast-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
1.0
rachelsreadsandreviews1's review against another edition
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
4.0
The Tip Line feels like a stream of consciousness character study of a woman who embraces a misogynistic world with open arms. Her obsessive single-white-female style of crazy is ultimately what I love most about this story.
I would caution potential readers that this is not a traditional thriller. It is slow paced and deeply psychological. It addresses priorities by showcasing a woman obsessed with finding a husband while she is neck deep in a murder case. She is not likable and the story is not “feel good”. I think it’s brilliant.
Thank you Vanessa Cuti, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for my advanced review copy. My options are my own!
The Tip Line is out now!
Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 4
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 4
Final Score - 4
buku_worm's review
I feel my IQ melting from this. It’s a woman who all she thinks about is finding a man.
dacy's review
1.0
If this was a longer book I would have given up, and frankly I wish I would have as the payout isn't there in my opinion. All that build up about Verona was going somewhere I thought but nope. Also the ending with the wedding was the icing on the terrible cake.
The narrator and the beginning are about the only positives, but after that it's downhill.
The narrator and the beginning are about the only positives, but after that it's downhill.
elizastella's review
2.0
Did not like this one. I despised the main character and felt like the story was so drawn out with no conclusive ending. I also got really confused when she would randomly make up scenarios or daydream. Really wanted to learn more about the crime but it was too focused on her finding a husband. The concept behind the story seemed interesting but the story itself was poorly executed.
za_'s review
2.5
Find the main character to be so husband obsessed that she took a job at the police station to find a husband…
There is a serial killer and you think it might be the guy the main character is dating.
But you never find out who really murder those women and the main character married that guy.
It was hard to tell what was happening at points b/c the main character would make up scenarios of what was going to happen.
rmarcin's review
3.0
Virginia takes a job handling the tip line at the local police station. Her goal? To land a husband. She automatically sets her sights on a kind homicide detective, Charlie Ford. But, just as things look promising, she switches direction and looks to the chief - Declan Brady.
Then, she receives a call on the tip line from Verona, a sex worker, who tells Virginia that there are dead bodies on a beach. Subsequent calls from Verona identify the killer as a police officer. But, Virginia doesn't want to believe it, because these men are her prospects for husband.
Strange book, told mainly through the thoughts of Virginia.
Then, she receives a call on the tip line from Verona, a sex worker, who tells Virginia that there are dead bodies on a beach. Subsequent calls from Verona identify the killer as a police officer. But, Virginia doesn't want to believe it, because these men are her prospects for husband.
Strange book, told mainly through the thoughts of Virginia.
judithdcollins's review
3.0
Vanessa Cuti’s debut, THE TIP LINE is a domestic drama about a woman who wants to find love and marry. How far will she go to do so?
Virginia Carey seems obsessed with wanting to get married. She is 30 yrs old and lands a job as an operator at a police station where she handles the tip line for incoming crimes. The Suffolk Police Department is primarily male-dominated, and she is a civilian operator.
She thinks this should be easy since she is surrounded by cops that are guys. Charlie Ford is a homicide detective, and Declan Brady is the police chief and can envision the wedding ring and marriage proposal.
Then she receives a call from Verona, a mysterious woman (sex worker) providing a tip about four bodies on a remote local beach. (This is about the only interesting part of the book). She also enlightens Virginia about the scandalous parties attended by law enforcement officers.
Is there a serial killer on the loose? Is it a police officer who is responsible for the murders? Will the tip line uncover the truth about the murders?
Firstly, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Sarah Naughton, gave an outstanding performance. However, the book—NOT so much!
The main character, Virginia, was so naive and, let me say, completely DELUSIONAL. She is living in some sort of fantasy world. OMG! This woman acted like a young pre-teen, not a 30-year-old woman!
I thought the book would be about mysteries, crime, and suspense; however, the book's focus was Virginia wanting to get married. Is this the 1950s?
I wanted to learn more about the murders, not Virginia wanting to get married, which seems to be front and center.
I fast-forwarded to most of it to get through it. A very unlikeable character. Maybe this book will be for someone, but definitely NOT for me.
Let me reiterate. This is NOT a police procedural. It is NOT a psychological thriller. This story is about a crazy woman and her innermost thoughts, a delusional mind. The story is narrated from Virginia’s POV, and being in her head was absolutely tiring, nerve-racking, and eye-rolling.
I will have to agree with many of the other reviewers. The book description does not fit the book. It drove me nuts. There was so much potential for a different story here.
I am being overly generous with a 3-star rating only because the narrator did a great job with what she had to work with. The book alone would be much less.
Thanks to #DreamscapeMedia for an ALC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3 Stars (for the audiobook)
Pub Date: April 18, 2023
Virginia Carey seems obsessed with wanting to get married. She is 30 yrs old and lands a job as an operator at a police station where she handles the tip line for incoming crimes. The Suffolk Police Department is primarily male-dominated, and she is a civilian operator.
She thinks this should be easy since she is surrounded by cops that are guys. Charlie Ford is a homicide detective, and Declan Brady is the police chief and can envision the wedding ring and marriage proposal.
Then she receives a call from Verona, a mysterious woman (sex worker) providing a tip about four bodies on a remote local beach. (This is about the only interesting part of the book). She also enlightens Virginia about the scandalous parties attended by law enforcement officers.
Is there a serial killer on the loose? Is it a police officer who is responsible for the murders? Will the tip line uncover the truth about the murders?
Firstly, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Sarah Naughton, gave an outstanding performance. However, the book—NOT so much!
The main character, Virginia, was so naive and, let me say, completely DELUSIONAL. She is living in some sort of fantasy world. OMG! This woman acted like a young pre-teen, not a 30-year-old woman!
I thought the book would be about mysteries, crime, and suspense; however, the book's focus was Virginia wanting to get married. Is this the 1950s?
I wanted to learn more about the murders, not Virginia wanting to get married, which seems to be front and center.
I fast-forwarded to most of it to get through it. A very unlikeable character. Maybe this book will be for someone, but definitely NOT for me.
Let me reiterate. This is NOT a police procedural. It is NOT a psychological thriller. This story is about a crazy woman and her innermost thoughts, a delusional mind. The story is narrated from Virginia’s POV, and being in her head was absolutely tiring, nerve-racking, and eye-rolling.
I will have to agree with many of the other reviewers. The book description does not fit the book. It drove me nuts. There was so much potential for a different story here.
I am being overly generous with a 3-star rating only because the narrator did a great job with what she had to work with. The book alone would be much less.
Thanks to #DreamscapeMedia for an ALC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3 Stars (for the audiobook)
Pub Date: April 18, 2023
fionacook's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Smart, reflective, darkly funny. An intriguing character-based mystery that kept the pages turning, with deeper layers exploring violence, feminine roles, and police-culture in an interesting and thought-provoking way. Loved it; this book stuck with me.