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cindytheskull's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-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? No
1.5
I was given this book by my auntie, but it would have never been something I would have bought for myself.
All in all it’s a too easy and predictable read with a cast of absolutely annoying characters that keep acting like no human being would ever act in similar situations.
I finished it just to be sure my prediction, which happened by 20% completion of my reading, was actually correct.
All in all it’s a too easy and predictable read with a cast of absolutely annoying characters that keep acting like no human being would ever act in similar situations.
I finished it just to be sure my prediction, which happened by 20% completion of my reading, was actually correct.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Murder, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, Pregnancy, Death, and Drug abuse
ellie_reads23's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chiara25's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
becksgoesbookish's review against another edition
4.0
This was a two for one for me because my local book club chose this as our Christmas book this year and I had the audio from NetGalley. I didn’t fully know what to expect besides the standard idea of a locked room murder mystery with an inheritance on the line, but very quickly I found myself fully immersed into this story and did not want to put it down!
I would say that that first 50% or so is mostly background and set up, and the “games” really begin in the second half of the book. And the pacing for the 12 days of the “game” is really well done!
The audio narration was also superb, and each character fully came to life with their own distinct voice. So it was very easy to keep the large cast of characters straight in my mind.
I would say that that first 50% or so is mostly background and set up, and the “games” really begin in the second half of the book. And the pacing for the 12 days of the “game” is really well done!
The audio narration was also superb, and each character fully came to life with their own distinct voice. So it was very easy to keep the large cast of characters straight in my mind.
kariniwonderland's review against another edition
2.0
It started out as a nice murder mystery with even some extra puzzles for the reader. But unfortunately it ended up pretty predictable and the story felt repetitive. I also found the way everyone dealt with the murders unrealistic. I mean there is a murderer in the house and they continue with the game like nothing happened.
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
madi_brown's review against another edition
1.0
This book was awful. The plot was nice, but the characters were so bland. The author spent way too much time describing pointless things and the climax at the end was all over the place.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
1.0
1/5
I don’t think I can say how much I despised reading this book. The characters were very dull, there was almost no backstory to any of them so I couldn’t be emotionally invested. The actual mystery was alright but there wasn’t a lot of excitement. I’m happy to be finished with this.
I don’t think I can say how much I despised reading this book. The characters were very dull, there was almost no backstory to any of them so I couldn’t be emotionally invested. The actual mystery was alright but there wasn’t a lot of excitement. I’m happy to be finished with this.
littlelifeofbooks's review against another edition
2.0
What did I just read. Um… I thought this was about to be a cozy, little dusting of murder over Christmas. Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with the poisonous mince pies it was not! Someone should really point out that this book will just make you sad, scared, and slightly depressed. Not even in a fun way where ghosts of Christmas past, present and future are about to visit you.
I honestly think I would have liked this so much more if it wasn’t labeled as a Christmas book. It has disturbing elements that make you go “woah”, and it’s a bit much at times. I know some people love the holiday season with a side of Krampus or coal, but I’m sadly not that lady. I prefer my Christmas books to be the key to my heart, not the key to the time I will never get back reading this book.
I honestly think I would have liked this so much more if it wasn’t labeled as a Christmas book. It has disturbing elements that make you go “woah”, and it’s a bit much at times. I know some people love the holiday season with a side of Krampus or coal, but I’m sadly not that lady. I prefer my Christmas books to be the key to my heart, not the key to the time I will never get back reading this book.
m4rierose's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, this is the first book I have seen to have a game within the book, to look for the anagrams whilst reading which I did try to do but was a little distracting from the story. I’m not sure if the anagrams were the reason for the author’s strange choice of words and metaphors, or whether that’s just her usual writing style.
Overall this book was ok but I probably wouldn’t recommend or rush to read another of the author’s books.
Spoiler
Reflecting on the book, the clues were impossible for the reader to comprehend as the answer was always linked to a backstory that we were unaware of, every time there was a new clue, the family just looked to Lily to give the answer. It is clear to me that the author is clearly very intelligent to have written all of the clues but it is a shame that we were just witnessing the story unfold rather than being able to predict anything. I did not figure out who the killer was until the end, maybe I missed something because apparently it was blindly obvious to others. The incest between the cousins was not ok in my opinion, it was just downright wrong.Overall this book was ok but I probably wouldn’t recommend or rush to read another of the author’s books.