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bookslifeandeverythingnice's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Down & Out Books, and Joe Clifford for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me. Sorry about the late review folks, my power was out for 3 days due to a winter snowstorm, so I’m a bit late on my book reviews.
My rating is actually 3.5 stars, but since there aren't half stars I always round up.
The One That Got Away is all about small towns. Their secrets, the people, the drama. There’s certainly no forgetting and no forgiving in this town, and yet people don’t really want to investigate the truth.
I like that the author explores that a small destitute town can be filled with so much drama, complex interpersonal relationships, and heartache. Nothing and no one is perfect. And nothing is as it originally seems. People are complex and so are the life lessons in the book. It also explores how people seem to want the perfect little victim and Alex, the main character, isn’t that.
What happens when the victim grows up, has difficulty in life or just doesn’t fit into that cookie cutter mold of a sweet innocent victim? What if she has a voice that isn’t calm, polished and poised? What if she speaks her mind no matter what?
Despite all of these great questions and conversations the book brings up, there are some downsides to it. I didn’t like that the “r” word was used multiple times. Yes, it fits the ignorance of the characters who use it, but it still bothers me. Also the police detective … oh let me count the ways he crossed the line.
Overall, there’s more than what initially meets the eye with The One That Got Away. Complex themes, complex flawed characters, lots of drama and mystery fill the pages, keeping you captivated throughout.
My rating is actually 3.5 stars, but since there aren't half stars I always round up.
The One That Got Away is all about small towns. Their secrets, the people, the drama. There’s certainly no forgetting and no forgiving in this town, and yet people don’t really want to investigate the truth.
I like that the author explores that a small destitute town can be filled with so much drama, complex interpersonal relationships, and heartache. Nothing and no one is perfect. And nothing is as it originally seems. People are complex and so are the life lessons in the book. It also explores how people seem to want the perfect little victim and Alex, the main character, isn’t that.
What happens when the victim grows up, has difficulty in life or just doesn’t fit into that cookie cutter mold of a sweet innocent victim? What if she has a voice that isn’t calm, polished and poised? What if she speaks her mind no matter what?
Despite all of these great questions and conversations the book brings up, there are some downsides to it. I didn’t like that the “r” word was used multiple times. Yes, it fits the ignorance of the characters who use it, but it still bothers me. Also the police detective … oh let me count the ways he crossed the line.
Overall, there’s more than what initially meets the eye with The One That Got Away. Complex themes, complex flawed characters, lots of drama and mystery fill the pages, keeping you captivated throughout.
jeremy_c's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
holsarmstrong's review
3.0
This had everything to be an amazing book but something fell flat for me and I can’t quite put my finger on what it was exactly - I liked the writing, but perhaps it was the characters that made me dislike this book more.
Alex isn’t a likeable character and of course you have sympathy for the situation she was in and this was understandable but she definitely could have been more fleshed out than she was.
I also found some of the twists predictable or obvious and I will commend Joe on the amazing foreshadowing that occurred throughout this book.
Equally, I thought the pace was slower than my liking which made me feel like I took years to finish this book when I usually finish it in 1-2 days.
Overall, a decent thriller with potential. The writing and structure of the book was great and the ending was decent enough!
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alex isn’t a likeable character and of course you have sympathy for the situation she was in and this was understandable but she definitely could have been more fleshed out than she was.
I also found some of the twists predictable or obvious and I will commend Joe on the amazing foreshadowing that occurred throughout this book.
Equally, I thought the pace was slower than my liking which made me feel like I took years to finish this book when I usually finish it in 1-2 days.
Overall, a decent thriller with potential. The writing and structure of the book was great and the ending was decent enough!
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
cassies_books_reviews's review
5.0
This book is not not your normal mystery or crime thriller. I really enjoyed this book I finished it one day! The main character Alex was abducted at the age of 17 by a serial killer she was rescued , but the other victims where all brutally murdered. As the one that got away she always wondering if living was really better than suffering death like all the other victims she’s constantly in fear but puts on a front that she’s tough and doesn’t care. When asked back to her hometown Reine 12 years later to be interviewed by a college newspaper she takes it’s a chance for some easy money. Once she’s there she realizes the interview is less about her but more about a beautiful girl Kira who vanished after Alex had been rescued. In an attempt to hunt down the truth and face her own demons, Alex sets out to finally get answers about the other girl Kira’s disappearance. A murderer was arrested even though Kira’s body has never been found. However the more Alex investigates she starts to realize things aren’t what they seem and the suspected killer a mentally challenged man named Benny has been wrongfully accused. The best part of this book for me was the journey you take with Alex as she faces her issues head on and she is far from perfect and that just made me admire her more and relate to her. I found myself rooting for her to get her own life on track but there were also times I seriously just wanted to yell at her and ask her what she was thinking! The ending felt rushed only because I wanted more and didn’t want the book to need! So mark your calendars for December 3rd!!
littleredlibrary's review
3.0
The parts of this book from Benny’s perspective were so incredibly sad and haunting, even Benny’s happy memories were bittersweet. I felt overall the female characters in the book with the exception of Alex could have done with some more depth but overall a good read with a completely unexpected twist at the end.
frostatmidnite's review
4.0
The One That Got Away is an amazing book. Packed full of suspense, but there are plenty of triggers. So, pick it up with caution.
The book had pages where there was hope, and some pages told a very dark story. But, on the whole this book is a great read for those who love dark mysteries.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
The book had pages where there was hope, and some pages told a very dark story. But, on the whole this book is a great read for those who love dark mysteries.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
bwagner's review
4.0
I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is author is newer to me which I enjoyed to the end. This is a well written story about abduction of children. When the killer was caught and sent away, the abductions stopped until now. When another child comes up missing, how far is someone willing to go to hide the truth behind the abductions? I enjoyed the characters and what they brought to the story. They are connectable, engaging and bought the story to life. I found this story to be full of action and fast paced. I had a hard time putting it down. It is a great story that I enjoyed. I highly recommend this book.
rainnbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Net Galley, Down & Out Books and Joe Clifford for a chance to review this book.
The One That Got Away is one hell of a mystery thriller, the prologue itself causing terror in our hearts. The story focuses on Alex Salerno who even after many years has not been able to get over the trauma of having been captured and locked into an underground box from where she was rescued. And that's exactly what all the people in her hometown refers to, 'The One That Got Away'. Her captor is in prison but the town of Reine has experienced another murder of Kira Shanks almost 7 years back and a college kid's research questions sends Alex to a whole new discovery of things in her town where no one is as it seems. There is a darkness permeating the story especially when the main character Alex is set about destroying her 2nd chance at life with drinks and drugs to keep the edge off of her daily life. Her character is not warmth inducing most times utterly unlikable to all the people helping her. The ending was a surprise and the chapters with Benny's thoughts were really heartbreaking.
The One That Got Away is one hell of a mystery thriller, the prologue itself causing terror in our hearts. The story focuses on Alex Salerno who even after many years has not been able to get over the trauma of having been captured and locked into an underground box from where she was rescued. And that's exactly what all the people in her hometown refers to, 'The One That Got Away'. Her captor is in prison but the town of Reine has experienced another murder of Kira Shanks almost 7 years back and a college kid's research questions sends Alex to a whole new discovery of things in her town where no one is as it seems. There is a darkness permeating the story especially when the main character Alex is set about destroying her 2nd chance at life with drinks and drugs to keep the edge off of her daily life. Her character is not warmth inducing most times utterly unlikable to all the people helping her. The ending was a surprise and the chapters with Benny's thoughts were really heartbreaking.
wendywalkerauthor's review
5.0
I just love Joe Clifford's writing. This one is atmospheric as to place and character - you are brought into this dark world and the dark mystery and even though you want to know what happens, you don't want it to end! Keep writing books, Joe :)
clairevoyantbooks's review
dark
3.5
The start of this book immediately got my attention as it dove right in to the heart of the story: we meet Alex our MC, or “The One That Got Away” from a notorious serial killer. Alex was just 17 years old when she was rescued, but our story takes place 12 years later when she comes back to her hometown Reine (in Upstate New York) under the guise of being interviewed about her experience. Accept, the reporter is focused on another murder, that of Kira Shanks, and that maybe they didn’t catch the true murderer.
Kira’s murder happened 5 years after Alex survived her own horror, but it’s one that has always overshadowed Alex’s story. Based on evidence at scene Benny Brudzienski, a young man diagnosed with Aphasia, who was unable to defend himself after getting beaten 2 weeks later and leaving him in a comatose state for the rest of his life. Despite the fact that Alex wants nothing to do with this at first, she can’t resist staying in Reine to find answers.
I enjoyed the overall plot and trying to figure out what actually happened, but Alex was a pretty unlivable main character. At times, I felt the story focused too much on her own mental state and problems, and instead of coming off dark and gritty, I felt it came off as just plain depressing more. There’s the undercurrent thought if she finds out what what happened to Kira, that some of Alex’s own personal demons would also be gone. I felt it did drag at times and I didn’t feel like I truly got into the book until about 2/3 of the way through.
I liked that we got Benny’s own point of view from when he first met Kira until the ending where we find out what actually happened. I found the ending well done, but not satisfying. We find out what happened, it’s not a huge twist, but instead a dark tale that matches the town of Reine. I found myself wanting a little more closure.
Kira’s murder happened 5 years after Alex survived her own horror, but it’s one that has always overshadowed Alex’s story. Based on evidence at scene Benny Brudzienski, a young man diagnosed with Aphasia, who was unable to defend himself after getting beaten 2 weeks later and leaving him in a comatose state for the rest of his life. Despite the fact that Alex wants nothing to do with this at first, she can’t resist staying in Reine to find answers.
I enjoyed the overall plot and trying to figure out what actually happened, but Alex was a pretty unlivable main character. At times, I felt the story focused too much on her own mental state and problems, and instead of coming off dark and gritty, I felt it came off as just plain depressing more. There’s the undercurrent thought if she finds out what what happened to Kira, that some of Alex’s own personal demons would also be gone. I felt it did drag at times and I didn’t feel like I truly got into the book until about 2/3 of the way through.
I liked that we got Benny’s own point of view from when he first met Kira until the ending where we find out what actually happened. I found the ending well done, but not satisfying. We find out what happened, it’s not a huge twist, but instead a dark tale that matches the town of Reine. I found myself wanting a little more closure.