Scan barcode
booknerdzara's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.
"No-one knows you better than your family. They know the little things that make you smile. Your proudest achievements. Your darkest secrets. Sure, you haven't always been best friends. But if it seemed as though someone was after you, that you might be in danger, then you'd be on each other's side. Right?"
Such an amazing, dark, twisted plot; I didn't know where it would end. I was left hanging on the edge so many times, not knowing where the book would go, as it was so unpredictable. The book built up to a brilliant, intense ending which stunned me - I did not see that coming for miles!
The main characters, three siblings, are just as dark, mysterious and evil as each other, and well-written. From the start, it's clear they are full of secrets and not honest with each other, or honest people at all.
The pace is gripping and addictive; it's one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time.
"No-one knows you better than your family. They know the little things that make you smile. Your proudest achievements. Your darkest secrets. Sure, you haven't always been best friends. But if it seemed as though someone was after you, that you might be in danger, then you'd be on each other's side. Right?"
Such an amazing, dark, twisted plot; I didn't know where it would end. I was left hanging on the edge so many times, not knowing where the book would go, as it was so unpredictable. The book built up to a brilliant, intense ending which stunned me - I did not see that coming for miles!
The main characters, three siblings, are just as dark, mysterious and evil as each other, and well-written. From the start, it's clear they are full of secrets and not honest with each other, or honest people at all.
The pace is gripping and addictive; it's one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time.
kdela's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lahutchens's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up—book was good but the ending wasn’t great
sleepytimebooks's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
4.5
breannehakey's review
4.0
Samantha Downing takes us along on an adventure we will never forget in her book, He Started it.“Anyone who ends up in jail, who does not complete the trip or who deviates from the trip in any way, will get nothing.” Those were the conditions of the family trip Beth’s grandfather designed for Beth and her siblings, Portia and Eddie and was instructed to them in his will. This was the only way they would get the money he left for them. The trip follows the exact path their grandfather took them on when they were children. Along the way, crazy things start happening. They keep getting flats and they feel like someone is following them. Once, their grandfather’s ashes even disappear.
Downing really knows how to get into her character’s heads and shape them to be anything but average. Typically, there is a good and a bad (or more than one) character in a story. In Downing’s books, it is difficult to tell if a character is a hero or a villain. These siblings are not your typical “good characters.” We do not often get to see a book’s perspective from a bad character.
Throughout the book, readers get a look into someone’s journal. It is not entirely clear who is writing the journal and when. This just adds to the mystery of the book, keeping the readers engaged.
Each stop on their road trip seemed to get stranger and stranger. It made me wonder how Downing was able to think up some of these ideas. Through each state the family went through, the beginning of the chapter had the State Motto. This was such a unique touch on her part. You can really tell the amount of time spent researching this book.
I don’t know about you, but I would not want to be on this roadtrip!
Thank you NetGalley, Samantha Downing and Berkley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Downing really knows how to get into her character’s heads and shape them to be anything but average. Typically, there is a good and a bad (or more than one) character in a story. In Downing’s books, it is difficult to tell if a character is a hero or a villain. These siblings are not your typical “good characters.” We do not often get to see a book’s perspective from a bad character.
Throughout the book, readers get a look into someone’s journal. It is not entirely clear who is writing the journal and when. This just adds to the mystery of the book, keeping the readers engaged.
Each stop on their road trip seemed to get stranger and stranger. It made me wonder how Downing was able to think up some of these ideas. Through each state the family went through, the beginning of the chapter had the State Motto. This was such a unique touch on her part. You can really tell the amount of time spent researching this book.
I don’t know about you, but I would not want to be on this roadtrip!
Thank you NetGalley, Samantha Downing and Berkley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
gina1223's review against another edition
4.0
xmaine's review
5.0
I love road trips so this got me hooked! I love Samantha Downing on her novel “My Lovely Wife” and this did not disappoint. Every character I hate and love at the same time. And oh, that TWIST in the end - I did not see that coming! It’s worth the hype y’all, read it now! BECAUSE I COULD.
riahv's review
5.0
Absolutely beautifully done with amazing plot twists. Worth it, especially the ending.
alovelikethis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75