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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I have to hand it to Wendy Walker. Emma in the Night was a fabulous surprise of twists and turns. I was barely able to put this novel down to go to work, and when I wasn’t soaking up the words, all I could do was think about finishing it and learning the truth.
This novel revolves around the disappearance of two sisters. Except, three years later, one of the sisters, Cass, returns to her parents’ doorstep. Her mysterious appearance and story baffle not only the law enforcement who have been working the case for years, but also her family. This leaves the question, where is Emma, the other sister?
Much of this novel revolves around the family dynamics before the girls vanished. The mother exhibits Narcissistic Personality Disorder, leading to a rocky and troubled upbringing for both Cass and Emma. Having personally dealt very closely with individuals suffering from this same disorder, Walker hit the nail pretty darn close. At times, however, the description of the affliction seemed to dominate the narrative, even though a shorter description would have sufficed. I wonder if those who have not had experiences with such individuals would have appreciated or been alienated by such incorporation into the story? Regardless, I loved the story, and will be hunting down a copy of Walker’s previous work.
This novel revolves around the disappearance of two sisters. Except, three years later, one of the sisters, Cass, returns to her parents’ doorstep. Her mysterious appearance and story baffle not only the law enforcement who have been working the case for years, but also her family. This leaves the question, where is Emma, the other sister?
Much of this novel revolves around the family dynamics before the girls vanished. The mother exhibits Narcissistic Personality Disorder, leading to a rocky and troubled upbringing for both Cass and Emma. Having personally dealt very closely with individuals suffering from this same disorder, Walker hit the nail pretty darn close. At times, however, the description of the affliction seemed to dominate the narrative, even though a shorter description would have sufficed. I wonder if those who have not had experiences with such individuals would have appreciated or been alienated by such incorporation into the story? Regardless, I loved the story, and will be hunting down a copy of Walker’s previous work.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
No October would be complete without at least one thriller to get the blood pumping. I was drawn to the cover of Emma in the Night, so despite not knowing much about the book, I thought that I would give it a shot.
Emma and Cass are sisters with a complicated home life, that only they know about. Despite Cass’s attempts to get outsiders to see that something isn’t right, no one seems to see just how bad it is. It looks like this will continue in this vein until eventually one night both Emma and Cass disappear. The novel follows the perspective of Cass when she returns three years later as well as one of the forensic psychologists, Abigail Winters, investigating the case.
Cass returns with only one goal: find her sister Emma. However, as her story is told, there seems to be some inconsistencies. Where was Cass and where is Emma? And what actually happened the night they disappeared?
Meanwhile, Abigail Winters finds that the case hits a bit too close to home. Abigail may be the one to finally see what is happening in the house and the twisted relationships between the family.
Parts of the book were pretty good and there were some decent twists. However, I had basically zero connection to Emma, so the urgency in locating her didn’t really happen. So I wanted to know what happened, but I didn’t really care too much, which effected my rating. I’d recommend borrowing it for a read, but it doesn’t really have a lot of value in a re-read.
SPOILERS:
OK, so apparently no one will believe that the mother suffers from narcissistic personality disorder, because it’s *so rare*. But I mean, my Psych 101 class covered it, and it’s in all my textbooks, so that didn’t make a ton of sense. Also, if the excuse is that Abigail was too close to the case because of her mother, couldn’t they just get another psychologist to do an evaluation? It just strained credibility so much, I had trouble taking Abigail seriously.
Emma and Cass are sisters with a complicated home life, that only they know about. Despite Cass’s attempts to get outsiders to see that something isn’t right, no one seems to see just how bad it is. It looks like this will continue in this vein until eventually one night both Emma and Cass disappear. The novel follows the perspective of Cass when she returns three years later as well as one of the forensic psychologists, Abigail Winters, investigating the case.
Cass returns with only one goal: find her sister Emma. However, as her story is told, there seems to be some inconsistencies. Where was Cass and where is Emma? And what actually happened the night they disappeared?
Meanwhile, Abigail Winters finds that the case hits a bit too close to home. Abigail may be the one to finally see what is happening in the house and the twisted relationships between the family.
Parts of the book were pretty good and there were some decent twists. However, I had basically zero connection to Emma, so the urgency in locating her didn’t really happen. So I wanted to know what happened, but I didn’t really care too much, which effected my rating. I’d recommend borrowing it for a read, but it doesn’t really have a lot of value in a re-read.
SPOILERS:
OK, so apparently no one will believe that the mother suffers from narcissistic personality disorder, because it’s *so rare*. But I mean, my Psych 101 class covered it, and it’s in all my textbooks, so that didn’t make a ton of sense. Also, if the excuse is that Abigail was too close to the case because of her mother, couldn’t they just get another psychologist to do an evaluation? It just strained credibility so much, I had trouble taking Abigail seriously.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Was not my favorite
dark
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dull characters with a tedious plot. Overwritten, repetative, incesty storyline with overly dramatic, cringey writing that made me roll my eyes far too often.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Like everyone else, it seems, I really enjoyed this book. It was compelling, something new but familiar enough to books like Gone Girl to where I felt I was reading a genre I already knew I liked, and the end was very satisfying.
I'm not sure it was super believable, especially what really happened to Emma, but I liked that careful line between predictability and unbelievability. I and I'm sure many other readers thought of some of the plot twists, but I like that the reader isn't sure which twists will come out to have actually happened and can only be stuck suspecting everyone and everything.
This is a ridiculously small caveat, but I didn't like that Abby described Lolita as "a young school girl who seduced an older man" or something along those lines. What a gross interpretation that didn't fit Abby's character. I also did feel that the mom was excessively blamed for not taking care of the girls--what was Owen doing when he was screaming at her to take care of them? Given the young age of the characters and that it might appeal to YA audiences because of that, I also wish more had come from this idea that "sex appeal is women's power over men" and that there was more discussion of why this is a problematic viewpoint.
I'm not sure it was super believable, especially what really happened to Emma, but I liked that careful line between predictability and unbelievability. I and I'm sure many other readers thought of some of the plot twists, but I like that the reader isn't sure which twists will come out to have actually happened and can only be stuck suspecting everyone and everything.
This is a ridiculously small caveat, but I didn't like that Abby described Lolita as "a young school girl who seduced an older man" or something along those lines. What a gross interpretation that didn't fit Abby's character. I also did feel that the mom was excessively blamed for not taking care of the girls--what was Owen doing when he was screaming at her to take care of them? Given the young age of the characters and that it might appeal to YA audiences because of that, I also wish more had come from this idea that "sex appeal is women's power over men" and that there was more discussion of why this is a problematic viewpoint.
2.5
These people. Jesus.
I think I don't like books where it's just people manipulating each other and being smug and thinking they're clever and not realizing they're being manipulated and dear God, what is the point. Get a hobby.
I loved Don't Look for Me from this author so I will try her again, I just can't with people like this.
These people. Jesus.
I think I don't like books where it's just people manipulating each other and being smug and thinking they're clever and not realizing they're being manipulated and dear God, what is the point. Get a hobby.
I loved Don't Look for Me from this author so I will try her again, I just can't with people like this.