Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

13 reviews

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Another solid domestic thriller!! This has definitely become my favorite sub-genre of mystery thrillers. And this one is heavy on domestic twists and suspenseful thrills!!

While it was a little slow to start, the intrigue never stops. It increases with each chapter (short chapters are the best) and throws in punch after punch of “WTF?!“ drama. This one is best if you go in blind, so I won’t say much else except that you will definitely have trust issues after finishing it. 

Robyn Harding is SO GOOD at what she does!! Fans of “Sleeping with the Enemy”, “Gone Girl”, “Killing Eve” and the like should flock to this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Stalking, Vomit, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Cursing, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Gun violence, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

bookb1itch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 Thanks to Better Reading for a preview copy of this book.  This is the review I submitted to them:

A very engaging look at what desperate women are capable of, in the quest for their essential survival.  Lee’s restaurant business collapses as a result of COVID 19 and bad decisions.  Bankrupt, and on the wrong side of a gangster, she flees and lives off the grid, in her car.  Early one morning, Lee witnesses an apparent suicide attempt, rescuing the woman from the sea.  The “drowning woman”, Hazel is married to a cruel and controlling man and has reached the limit of her endurance.  Hazel and Lee form an unusual friendship. 

 

The story explores how people are shaped by their experiences and are not always what they present to the world.  The major twist is unexpected. 

An addictive read recommended for those who enjoy the books of Claire Mackintosh and Peter Swanson. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Death of parent

soobooksalot's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Two women on two very different life paths makes for a most riveting story. 
 Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my eARC of The Drowning Woman for review!
 Canadian author Robyn Harding has absolutely nailed her latest thriller. The stories of Hazel and Lee drew me in immediately, and they're surrounded by secondary characters who are all levels of nasty.
 I was travelling while readin  this, and often find it difficult to keep up with a book when not on my usual life schedule - this one kept me at it whenever I had a spare moment!
 Recommended!
 For release on June 13.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Dementia, Gaslighting, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Murder