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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
I wish I could remember who recommended this to me, I’d be having strong words with them. I found this super tedious until the reveal about 3/4 of the way through when things finally got interesting.
2.5/5
2.5/5
A well-paced, unsettling read! Perfect mystery read for the summer holidays, with enough tension, drama, and suspense to keep you gripped all the way through. It is, unfortunately, a little predictable but still kept me questioning and wondering "what the hell is going on" for a good half of the book. The use of the prologue was also a little bit questionable. It actually made me think, eh, do I really want to read this? Why is this the prologue? What's it telling me I'm not going to find out later? Turns out, not much.
Still a great debut, and I really loved reading the author's thoughts at the end of the book. I'll definitely pick up Anna Downes next novel.
Still a great debut, and I really loved reading the author's thoughts at the end of the book. I'll definitely pick up Anna Downes next novel.
I really liked this one. I had read a Lucy Folley book before this one and I thought that maybe they would be too similar with the idea of a getaway, but this book wasn't like anything I've read before. It reminded me of a Lisa Jewell book. I wanted to know what was really going on, but it didn't distract me from enjoying what was going on right now. I definitely recommend this for anyone who likes mystery/thriller books. I liked the twist but it came suddenly and then it seemed like the book was over. I liked the ending, it just felt slightly rushed. This is one of those books that you finish and then want to start over again to go back and try to pick up on all of the subtle hints that would help you get to the ending.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5/5
A fun thriller with a great atmosphere, an interesting concept, and a mega unlikeable protagonist.
I enjoyed the book, though it took a bit long for it to get to the point. I could feel like I was reading a thriller, but I wasn't really sure sometimes XD. BUT the payoff was worth it in my opinion. It was a truly creepy vibe.
A fun thriller with a great atmosphere, an interesting concept, and a mega unlikeable protagonist.
I enjoyed the book, though it took a bit long for it to get to the point. I could feel like I was reading a thriller, but I wasn't really sure sometimes XD. BUT the payoff was worth it in my opinion. It was a truly creepy vibe.
The book follows Emily's story, starting with showing what a mess her life is (she's a struggling wannabe actress, in her 20's). Scott, her boss at her temp job, is struggling with some kind of emotional turmoil, and targets Emily to offer her a job as his housekeeper at his remote estate in France.
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I liked how the suspense was built by alternating the perspectives between Emily and Scott. It wasn't predictable for me, so I didn't know exactly what the problem/twists would be.
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However I had a problem with Emily's character from the beginning to the end. I think she was unrealistically scatterbrains, had no redeeming qualities and all her decisions were questionable. I didn't really care what happened to her. My motivation to keep reading the book was to discover what dark secret Scott and his wife were hiding.
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I'd say that the middle was a bit slow, but the last quarter of the book was definitely intense and suspenseful. It's was an enjoyable summer read and I would have rated it higher if I hadn't found Emily so unrealistic. And this is only my opinion, and am sure many other readers will not have this issue and enjoy the book even more.
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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
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I liked how the suspense was built by alternating the perspectives between Emily and Scott. It wasn't predictable for me, so I didn't know exactly what the problem/twists would be.
.
However I had a problem with Emily's character from the beginning to the end. I think she was unrealistically scatterbrains, had no redeeming qualities and all her decisions were questionable. I didn't really care what happened to her. My motivation to keep reading the book was to discover what dark secret Scott and his wife were hiding.
.
I'd say that the middle was a bit slow, but the last quarter of the book was definitely intense and suspenseful. It's was an enjoyable summer read and I would have rated it higher if I hadn't found Emily so unrealistic. And this is only my opinion, and am sure many other readers will not have this issue and enjoy the book even more.
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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This slow-burning thriller will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page. Emily is a mess. In fact, Emily is a hot mess. She's lost her job, she's lost her agent, she's lost her apartment and just about everything that seems to matter for her. Taking a job as a live-in worker for an extremely wealthy family at their picturesque home on the stunning coast of France, Emily thinks her life is turning around. Quickly, but while keeping the reader engaged in every page, the facade starts to slip away and Emily discovers more than she ever wanted to know about this family. What Emily knows could put her life in danger and the reader holding their breath.
After struggling to find acting work in London, Emily takes a job as a housekeeper at her boss's family estate. It's everything the French countryside should be: charming, relaxing, and completely void of cellular service. She loves her new job--until she realizes things aren't what they seem and she needs to find a way out, for everyone involved.
This read was a real slow burn, but as it got closer to the end it turned out to be worth the wait. For the majority of the book, it doesn't feel like you're reading a suspense novel at all, and that aspect could make this book the perfect beach read. There were also some real moments of good writing that let me enjoy this as a pleasant little read instead of a full-on thriller novel. I appreciated how the POV jumped between characters to let you completely understand what was going on. And I appreciated that too much information wasn't dropped too early that completely gave away the plot twist.
I gave this 4 stars because I felt there was too much energy spent on Emily's story that could have been better served creating suspense or action at the estate. But overall I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy, pleasant read that keeps you guessing.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This read was a real slow burn, but as it got closer to the end it turned out to be worth the wait. For the majority of the book, it doesn't feel like you're reading a suspense novel at all, and that aspect could make this book the perfect beach read. There were also some real moments of good writing that let me enjoy this as a pleasant little read instead of a full-on thriller novel. I appreciated how the POV jumped between characters to let you completely understand what was going on. And I appreciated that too much information wasn't dropped too early that completely gave away the plot twist.
I gave this 4 stars because I felt there was too much energy spent on Emily's story that could have been better served creating suspense or action at the estate. But overall I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy, pleasant read that keeps you guessing.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars. Very much a page turner, slowly building up an unsettling, creepy atmosphere and tension. Hard to put down until you get the answers!
I read this in one day! It leaves you hoping there is a part two, so you can keep reading and figure out all the loose ends. Even thought I tried to guess what would happen, I was mid way through the book and still did not have a solid idea of what the twist would be. Of course there are many red flags popping up everywhere but nothing that makes it obvious what will occur. It was a very well planned book & Anna is a brilliant writer! I thought the ending was a bit rushed and left too many loose ends but that is my opinion on the ending. Perfect summer book to just get lost in the paradise and mysteries that come with this book!