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dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Stalking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Every moment when I thought I had this book figured out, it threw me for yet another twist. Now I am left just utterly baffled, confused, and speechless, but in the best way. Alex Michaelides is slowly becoming an author that I will read anything he has ever published and anything he will ever publish. These characters are downright horrendous but in the best of ways. Even Leo, and I wasn’t thinking about him in that way at first, but even Leo was not innocent in this story. This is psychopathy and obsession at its ugliest and its finest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence, Classism
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While this book had the potential to be great, I found it's heavy reliance on dramatic elements for shock value rather disappointing and tiring.
The flow of the story often felt unbalanced. Some scenes tended to drag on longer than necessary, while other key moments were rushed through or not fully developed. This unevenness in the pacing detracted from the overall enjoyment I had while reading.
I also felt there was a lack of credibility and common sense throughout, which prevented me from fully enjoying it. The characters' choices often came across as being poorly thought out.
And while Elliott may not have been the most likable or believable narrator, it would have added depth to the story if his past had been more fully developed.
Overall, this book felt like a shallow imitation of an Agatha Christie novel, lacking the depth, complexity and attention to detail that made her novels so captivating.
The flow of the story often felt unbalanced. Some scenes tended to drag on longer than necessary, while other key moments were rushed through or not fully developed. This unevenness in the pacing detracted from the overall enjoyment I had while reading.
I also felt there was a lack of credibility and common sense throughout, which prevented me from fully enjoying it. The characters' choices often came across as being poorly thought out.
And while Elliott may not have been the most likable or believable narrator, it would have added depth to the story if his past had been more fully developed.
Overall, this book felt like a shallow imitation of an Agatha Christie novel, lacking the depth, complexity and attention to detail that made her novels so captivating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Stalking, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a wild ride…..
I truly don’t know how I feel about this book, its writing style was quite interesting, I didn’t hate it nor did I love it. I’m still not sure about all the twist and tangles in this book, none were shocking or jarring to me.
Idk I’m very eh about the whole book.
I truly don’t know how I feel about this book, its writing style was quite interesting, I didn’t hate it nor did I love it. I’m still not sure about all the twist and tangles in this book, none were shocking or jarring to me.
Idk I’m very eh about the whole book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders
It definitely grows on you. When I was about 25% of the way through I thought it would be a DNF, but I stuck it out. The narration style was not really my cup of tea at all, but the plot kept me going; however, this one doesn't quite stack up against The Maidens or The Silent Patient.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment
Minor: Sexual violence
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Alright, here’s my once-in-a-blue-moon thriller read! I don’t think I’ve read one since 2022! (The Storygraph says Killers of a Certain Age counts as a thriller - read late 2023 - but I disagree).
I enjoyed this one! The style is interesting: the narrator tells the story directly to the audience, as though we’re listening to a verbal story from an acquaintance. The character of the narrator knows a reader is listening to the story as they are telling it, and it’s obvious to the audience that the same character would tell the story differently if they were just writing it down for themselves in a journal. It definitely makes you think about why the character chooses to explain things in certain ways. (And why the author chose to have the character make these choices…).
The pacing is interesting too: the narrator tells us some parts of the story several times, adding a new piece of information for further context each time. The plot unfolds bit by bit. And the plot of this book – the reveals, the ups and downs, et cetera – are not about the murder. Those first two sentences of the synopsis are accurate: this isn’t a murder mystery. It’s a character study. The plot is about the main character. It’s a really interesting and neat way to tell a story, and as someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers and doesn’t mind that this one has pretty slow pacing… I enjoyed it. I think it’d make a great book discussion pick for the right book group.
(Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC!)
I enjoyed this one! The style is interesting: the narrator tells the story directly to the audience, as though we’re listening to a verbal story from an acquaintance. The character of the narrator knows a reader is listening to the story as they are telling it, and it’s obvious to the audience that the same character would tell the story differently if they were just writing it down for themselves in a journal. It definitely makes you think about why the character chooses to explain things in certain ways. (And why the author chose to have the character make these choices…).
The pacing is interesting too: the narrator tells us some parts of the story several times, adding a new piece of information for further context each time. The plot unfolds bit by bit. And the plot of this book – the reveals, the ups and downs, et cetera – are not about the murder. Those first two sentences of the synopsis are accurate: this isn’t a murder mystery. It’s a character study. The plot is about the main character. It’s a really interesting and neat way to tell a story, and as someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers and doesn’t mind that this one has pretty slow pacing… I enjoyed it. I think it’d make a great book discussion pick for the right book group.
(Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 3⭐️
Vibes: 🎥🎭🇬🇷🏝️📝
Publishing date: Jan 16, 2024 (out NOW, happy pub day!)
Thank you to @celadonbooks for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
What to expect:
- First-person narrator
- Murder on a private, remote Greek island
- Told in 5 Acts
- Non-linear timeline
*** WARNING: There is a spoiler for the Silent Patient in the epilogue, and Easter eggs throughout the book
My critiques:
- Don’t go in expecting a thriller; I did for some reason, but I would describe this as more of a drama/mystery; it didn’t have the propulsive nature or anything that really gave me goosebumps which I like from a thriller (like the Silent Patient did)
- Unlikable characters that made it difficult for me to care about their fates; there is a murder, but I was never truly made to care
- Slow pacing in the beginning; due to this, I feel like there was so much set-up that I was sick of waiting by the time of the big reveals
What I liked:
- Quick read overall (started it on Sunday, finished it Monday)
- The ending really did pick up, and the twists and turns did surprise me
The Silent Patient is still his best work imo; both the Maidens and this book left me wanting more. I think I’ll give him one more chance? It has to be difficult when your debate is so widely loved and recommended, to measure up to that.
Overall, I’d recommend this if you enjoy tragedies with Greek mythology references, Agatha Christie-inspired works, and omnipresent first person narration (which was interesting, it felt like the narrator was talking to the reader/breaking the 4th wall… not sure it totally worked for me, but it was unique).
⚠️ CW/TW: murder, gun violence, infidelity, mentions of childhood abuse/neglect.
My rating: 3⭐️
Vibes: 🎥🎭🇬🇷🏝️📝
Publishing date: Jan 16, 2024 (out NOW, happy pub day!)
Thank you to @celadonbooks for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
What to expect:
- First-person narrator
- Murder on a private, remote Greek island
- Told in 5 Acts
- Non-linear timeline
*** WARNING: There is a spoiler for the Silent Patient in the epilogue, and Easter eggs throughout the book
My critiques:
- Don’t go in expecting a thriller; I did for some reason, but I would describe this as more of a drama/mystery; it didn’t have the propulsive nature or anything that really gave me goosebumps which I like from a thriller (like the Silent Patient did)
- Unlikable characters that made it difficult for me to care about their fates; there is a murder, but I was never truly made to care
- Slow pacing in the beginning; due to this, I feel like there was so much set-up that I was sick of waiting by the time of the big reveals
What I liked:
- Quick read overall (started it on Sunday, finished it Monday)
- The ending really did pick up, and the twists and turns did surprise me
The Silent Patient is still his best work imo; both the Maidens and this book left me wanting more. I think I’ll give him one more chance? It has to be difficult when your debate is so widely loved and recommended, to measure up to that.
Overall, I’d recommend this if you enjoy tragedies with Greek mythology references, Agatha Christie-inspired works, and omnipresent first person narration (which was interesting, it felt like the narrator was talking to the reader/breaking the 4th wall… not sure it totally worked for me, but it was unique).
⚠️ CW/TW: murder, gun violence, infidelity, mentions of childhood abuse/neglect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Violence