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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
Audio, 3.5
Fine? I think I wanted more murder / drama in the resolution. Owen and Luna were an interesting kind of weird, though, which I appreciated.
Fine? I think I wanted more murder / drama in the resolution. Owen and Luna were an interesting kind of weird, though, which I appreciated.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars rounded up.
*somewhat spolier-ish review*
The book isn't as "thriller-ish" as its blurb makes it out to be. Yes, there's a murder (or two) and hints that are intentionally dropped to ramp up the suspense factor. But overall, this book - told through past and present POVs - details a deep friendship and its (somewhat messy) travails. It's a good plot but i wish that the author could've explained some of the characters better because they ended up being integral to understanding the ending.
*somewhat spolier-ish review*
The book isn't as "thriller-ish" as its blurb makes it out to be. Yes, there's a murder (or two) and hints that are intentionally dropped to ramp up the suspense factor. But overall, this book - told through past and present POVs - details a deep friendship and its (somewhat messy) travails. It's a good plot but i wish that the author could've explained some of the characters better because they ended up being integral to understanding the ending.
I actually finished this a month ago and don't remember it. Not sure that says great things about the book.
didn't call the twist and for that I really enjoyed it. I think Lutz's best work since early Spellman books.
***“I think whatever those two are, it’s not normal.”***
Luna was a friend of Irene, Owen’s murdered wife, they went running together numerous times. They had morning coffee together, at Luna’s home. One lazy morning, Irene comes for a cup of hot coffee and starts talking about Owen having an affair. Luna listens but she is kinda shocked about it because Owen tells her everything, anyway Irene drinks her coffee and goes for a run.
That night Luna and Owen met at a bar, he admits of having an affair with one of his students. Gross. He asks Luna to text Irene to run together in the morning, so she can check up on her because she hasn’t come home yet. Luna sends the text which goes unanswered.
The next morning Luna goes to the cemetery to wait for Irene, that’s the location of their morning runs, but finds her dead in a ditch, shot. She runs to Owen and calls 911. Why she called the police from Owen’s house and not her own? Since Luna’s home was closer to the crime scene.
What’s annoying about this story is that it runs in two separate plans, one is the present moment and the second one goes to their uni days, the beginning of their weird and secretive friendship.
Although, I like their dynamic and I like that the detectives are super suspicious of them. Adds to the whole element of mystery that drives this book further.
The entire book I’ve felt that Owen and Luna aren’t attracted to each other for good reasons. Like their friendship, and mind you: it’s just friendship, is sick and twisted so in this department the book rocked the thriller mystery genre. But I don’t like Owen, Luna isn’t so awesome either but she had a hard life and I get that, some twists come along the way but the book isn’t fast paced.
Although, I did enjoyed it because I couldn’t put it down, it’s eerie not pleasurable.
Luna was a friend of Irene, Owen’s murdered wife, they went running together numerous times. They had morning coffee together, at Luna’s home. One lazy morning, Irene comes for a cup of hot coffee and starts talking about Owen having an affair. Luna listens but she is kinda shocked about it because Owen tells her everything, anyway Irene drinks her coffee and goes for a run.
That night Luna and Owen met at a bar, he admits of having an affair with one of his students. Gross. He asks Luna to text Irene to run together in the morning, so she can check up on her because she hasn’t come home yet. Luna sends the text which goes unanswered.
The next morning Luna goes to the cemetery to wait for Irene, that’s the location of their morning runs, but finds her dead in a ditch, shot. She runs to Owen and calls 911. Why she called the police from Owen’s house and not her own? Since Luna’s home was closer to the crime scene.
What’s annoying about this story is that it runs in two separate plans, one is the present moment and the second one goes to their uni days, the beginning of their weird and secretive friendship.
Although, I like their dynamic and I like that the detectives are super suspicious of them. Adds to the whole element of mystery that drives this book further.
The entire book I’ve felt that Owen and Luna aren’t attracted to each other for good reasons. Like their friendship, and mind you: it’s just friendship, is sick and twisted so in this department the book rocked the thriller mystery genre. But I don’t like Owen, Luna isn’t so awesome either but she had a hard life and I get that, some twists come along the way but the book isn’t fast paced.
Although, I did enjoyed it because I couldn’t put it down, it’s eerie not pleasurable.
After meeting in college in 2003 Luna and Owen became best friends and some people may say their relationship goes beyond just being close. They are always by each others side and their relationship never turned romantic.
No one knows Lunas dark past and the secrets that are buried and she hopes it’s never revealed. Luna and Owens friendship survives secrets and a mysterious death all while in College.
Fast forward to 2019 and Luna is married to Sam and Owen is married to Irina, Luna and Owen live near each other and have remained friends through the years since college. While out on a jog Luna discovers Owens wife Irina shot dead in a cemetery. How can one friendship leave behind two dead bodies? Soon these two friends see their lives being picked apart and they begin to realize maybe they don’t know each other as well as they thought they did.
There are two timelines and two murders. Narration switches perspective quickly and I truly enjoyed this writing style it kept me on my toes. The events unfold slowly and there’s an atmospheric tone to the story! Five stars!!
No one knows Lunas dark past and the secrets that are buried and she hopes it’s never revealed. Luna and Owens friendship survives secrets and a mysterious death all while in College.
Fast forward to 2019 and Luna is married to Sam and Owen is married to Irina, Luna and Owen live near each other and have remained friends through the years since college. While out on a jog Luna discovers Owens wife Irina shot dead in a cemetery. How can one friendship leave behind two dead bodies? Soon these two friends see their lives being picked apart and they begin to realize maybe they don’t know each other as well as they thought they did.
There are two timelines and two murders. Narration switches perspective quickly and I truly enjoyed this writing style it kept me on my toes. The events unfold slowly and there’s an atmospheric tone to the story! Five stars!!
It is has been 10 years since Gillian Flynn released "Gone Girl." If you're wondering what she's been doing since then, I'd like to share my theory: she has jumped into Calvin & Hobbes transmogriphication device and turned into Lisa Lutz.
All kidding aside, Lisa Lutz creates some of the most believable, unlikable female protagonists in fiction today.
Likeability is a big thing for me. I have many theories. Call me some time and we can discuss. But it short, I think it's perfectly acceptable to have a flawed human being as a protagonist who makes it difficult to like them. A gifted writer can create that character and still make the reader want said character to succeed -- the Amy Dunne effect.
More often than not, a writer will create that character and they're such a PITA that the reader (me, in this case) can't identify with the character and wants them to fail in a spectacular fashion -- the Katniss Everdeen effect.
Lutz's Luna Grey manages to out Amy Dunne even Amy Dunne. I may have to change my theory titles. She is a complicated woman with ghosts and bad decisions in her past. Those things shape her actions and decisions in a way that is very understandable.
In fact, this entire book is filled with characters like that -- people that you can identify with and understand. They have character traits you will recognize in yourself and your friends. They make decisions with the best of intentions and create chaotic cascade events. While the plot of The Accomplice is a fantastic thriller, the decisions that got the characters there are similar to the ones we make everyday -- do I return this call? What happens if I avoid this person? Should I try and help?
Pick it up when you've got time, because you won't want to put it down.
All kidding aside, Lisa Lutz creates some of the most believable, unlikable female protagonists in fiction today.
Likeability is a big thing for me. I have many theories. Call me some time and we can discuss. But it short, I think it's perfectly acceptable to have a flawed human being as a protagonist who makes it difficult to like them. A gifted writer can create that character and still make the reader want said character to succeed -- the Amy Dunne effect.
More often than not, a writer will create that character and they're such a PITA that the reader (me, in this case) can't identify with the character and wants them to fail in a spectacular fashion -- the Katniss Everdeen effect.
Lutz's Luna Grey manages to out Amy Dunne even Amy Dunne. I may have to change my theory titles. She is a complicated woman with ghosts and bad decisions in her past. Those things shape her actions and decisions in a way that is very understandable.
In fact, this entire book is filled with characters like that -- people that you can identify with and understand. They have character traits you will recognize in yourself and your friends. They make decisions with the best of intentions and create chaotic cascade events. While the plot of The Accomplice is a fantastic thriller, the decisions that got the characters there are similar to the ones we make everyday -- do I return this call? What happens if I avoid this person? Should I try and help?
Pick it up when you've got time, because you won't want to put it down.