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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
The premise of this thriller is utterly engaging: Catherine recognizes herself in a novel she is reading. The author of this novel knows things about Catherine that she thought no one else knew--that no one else could possibly know. A secret that she has been hiding for 20 years is exposed. Now, it seems, the author of the novel is trying to settle a score with Catherine, but who is the author, and what does she or he want from Catherine?
For the first third of the book, I was completely hooked. Then, in the novel that Catherine is reading, we see the secret. The secret is just not as horrible and not as bad as I had thought it would be, so I started to ratchet down my expectations for this novel.
However, about three quarters of the way through, there is an even bigger reveal. This completely changed the tone and pace of the novel for me. I was once again completely hooked. This revelation cast everything that came before in a new and surprising light, and it made me re-evaluate all of the key characters and what I thought of them.
My summer reading (today is June 1) is starting off on a great note. Disclaimer is a first-rate thriller with a great drama and two strong characters in Catherine and her antagonist, Stephen. Mystery and thriller fans will not be disappointed with this riveting (yes, I used the word, riveting, and I know it sounds trite, but it's apt) debut novel from Renee Knight.
For the first third of the book, I was completely hooked. Then, in the novel that Catherine is reading, we see the secret.
Spoiler
Catherine had had an affair with a young man named Jonathan while on vacation in Spain. Then, while at the beach, Catherine fell asleep after making love to Jonathan, and her son, Nicholas, who is playing in an inflatable toy, starts to drift out to sea. Luckily, Jonathan sees this, swims out, and rescues Nicholas, but before making it all the way back to shore, Jonathan is exhausted and drowns. Another man, though, had swum out as well, so Nicholas is saved.However, about three quarters of the way through, there is an even bigger reveal.
Spoiler
Catherine was not having an affair with Jonathan. Jonathan had actually raped her. The writer of the novel that Catherine was reading had simply portrayed Jonathan and Catherine's sexual encounter as consensual when, in fact, it was not.My summer reading (today is June 1) is starting off on a great note. Disclaimer is a first-rate thriller with a great drama and two strong characters in Catherine and her antagonist, Stephen. Mystery and thriller fans will not be disappointed with this riveting (yes, I used the word, riveting, and I know it sounds trite, but it's apt) debut novel from Renee Knight.
This was a great book. I don’t usually love psychological thrillers as much because I often find them too predictable and cliche, but this author did a fantastic job of keeping the twist hidden.
There was the initial story in the beginning that you know isn’t the full story but I didn’t expect the reveal until it happened. The author did such a good job of making you not root for any of the characters at the start. Instinct tells you to root for Catherine as it’s obvious she is the main focus of the book, but her having an affair makes you not want to. However, the behaviour and thoughts of Stephen and what we learn early on about him, gives him a vibe that you don’t trust as well which is what makes it such a good story because you’re just not entirely sure where it’s going to go.
I think the ending was so perfect as well - the acknowledgment from Stephen that what he did was unforgivable and deep down he probably knew what his son was capable of provided a satisfactory conclusion to his story; and then I was SO thrilled that she decided to leave Robert (which I think proves that this book was written by a woman) because whilst we all believed that Catherine had cheated (which is an unforgivable act), the immediate hate he developed for her and the complete absence of doubt is a type of betrayal that you can never get over in a relationship and shows such a subconscious level of distrust from him that is unfair to her and to their marriage.
There was the initial story in the beginning that you know isn’t the full story but I didn’t expect the reveal until it happened. The author did such a good job of making you not root for any of the characters at the start. Instinct tells you to root for Catherine as it’s obvious she is the main focus of the book, but her having an affair makes you not want to. However, the behaviour and thoughts of Stephen and what we learn early on about him, gives him a vibe that you don’t trust as well which is what makes it such a good story because you’re just not entirely sure where it’s going to go.
I think the ending was so perfect as well - the acknowledgment from Stephen that what he did was unforgivable and deep down he probably knew what his son was capable of provided a satisfactory conclusion to his story; and then I was SO thrilled that she decided to leave Robert (which I think proves that this book was written by a woman) because whilst we all believed that Catherine had cheated (which is an unforgivable act), the immediate hate he developed for her and the complete absence of doubt is a type of betrayal that you can never get over in a relationship and shows such a subconscious level of distrust from him that is unfair to her and to their marriage.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Suorastaan ahmin kirjaa ennen kuin lopun twisti paljastui - sitten kiinnostukseni valitettavasti lopahti.
Kenenkään ei pitänyt tietää on Renée Knightin ensimmäinen teos. Päähenkilö Catherine löytää yöpöydältään kirjan, mutta tajuaa pian, että kirja kertoo hänen elämästään. Luettuaan järkyttävän loppuratkaisun, hän ryhtyy selvittämään kuka on kirjan takana.
Kertoakseni kunnolla mielipiteeni kirjasta, vaatii se vähän spoilereita, joten juonipaljastuksia seuraa alla!
Catherinen aviomies saa käsiinsä materiaalia, jotka hänen mielestään todistavat Catherinen valehdelleen hänelle kaikki nämä vuodet. Sen sijasta, että hän pyytäisi vaimoltaan selitystä, hän uskoo kaiken ja hylkää vaimonsa. Sinänsä ihan mahdollista, mutta miehen paskamainen käytös oli luotaantyöntävää. Tosin kirjassa nostetaan Catherinen perspektiivissä hyvin esiin se, miten miehen mielestä on maailmanloppu jos Catherine petti häntä, mutta se onkin “ok” jos Catherinelle tehtiin väkivaltaa.
Kun lopulta paljastuu että Catherine onkin uhri eikä syypää, ovat kaikki jo hylänneet Catherinen. Mukaanlukien minä, sillä Catherinen perspektiivi on osaltaan antanut ymmärtää hänen olevan syyllinen johonkin ja Catherinesta on muodostunut epämiellyttävä kuva, osittain siksi juonen yllätyskäänne tuntuu epätyydyttävältä.
Tässä valossa Jonathanin kuolemaan johtavat tapahtumat ovat outoja, eikä selitys huonosta omastatunnosta tunnu luotettavalta. Muutenkin loppuratkaisussa hahmojen motiivit ja syy näihin tuntuvat oudoilta: yrittääkö kirja sanoa, että sekä Catherine että Jonathanin äiti ovat molemmat syypäitä poikiensa tekoihin?
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
This is very well written and involving. However I will not be finishing it because the central premise of the book involves a type of violent crime that I do not wish to read about, however well written