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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
A very good abduction thriller, if that is possibly something to be good at. The synopsis of the book accurately sums up the premise so I won't bother to repeat it here, but I will recommend going into this book blind for the best experience. Being held hostage is one of my ultimate fears (plus intruders into my apartment... which this book also delivers), so this book really disturbed me. It's hard not to imagine the ways you would try to escape... or assimilate. There were a few little plot details that bothered me or felt unfinished, but it does wrap itself up with a satisfying ending. Not sure how memorable of a read this will be in a couple years, but it was fun for the time being!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a BRILLIANT book. I read so many psychological thrillers where I end up being disappointed, because I don’t ‘buy’ the plot. Some are simply too unrealistic and far-fetched. But I never thought that while reading dear child. I also found the characters realistic, with the complexities of human beings perfectly captured. It was an intense and thrilling read, and I was also surprised at the ending, a major plus.
This was...for a lack of a better term, chilling. I don't even know where to start because this entire story gave me goosebumps. Although it reminded me a lot of the novel Room by Emma Donoghue, this one did have its own eerie twist on it. And I loved it!
As weird and twisted as it might sound, I am a massive fan of true crime and I have always been fascinated by cases - and kidnappings like this have always piqued my interest. I will honestly read anything with a storyline like this where - usually - a young woman is kidnapped and then escapes which is weird considering it's one of my worst fears.
- This was fast-paced from the get-go. I devoured this entire book last night into the early hours of the morning. I could literally not put it down. I was hooked, a true page-turner.
- I think reading from multiple perspectives in this book really worked. I liked reading from Hannah especially as seeing the view from a sheltered, but slightly disturbed child was interesting to me. I think Jasmin/Lena was a fascinating character. I liked how her chapters were addressed to the original Lena as if she was speaking to her directly.
- The writing was phenomenal and well-executed. I think the plotting was just right and it ended in a place I felt relatively comfortable leaving their stories behind.
I do wish considering we got three different perspectives that we got some perspective from the kidnapper, Johnathon and even of Lena beforehand. I feel like this would have enhanced the book because although I found Matthais' point of view interesting, I found myself less engaged with his chapters. I was much more interested in the goings-on inside the cabin and how outside life worked for them.
Overall, a fantastic, suspenseful mystery/thriller. I would definitely recommend.
As weird and twisted as it might sound, I am a massive fan of true crime and I have always been fascinated by cases - and kidnappings like this have always piqued my interest. I will honestly read anything with a storyline like this where - usually - a young woman is kidnapped and then escapes which is weird considering it's one of my worst fears.
- This was fast-paced from the get-go. I devoured this entire book last night into the early hours of the morning. I could literally not put it down. I was hooked, a true page-turner.
- I think reading from multiple perspectives in this book really worked. I liked reading from Hannah especially as seeing the view from a sheltered, but slightly disturbed child was interesting to me. I think Jasmin/Lena was a fascinating character. I liked how her chapters were addressed to the original Lena as if she was speaking to her directly.
- The writing was phenomenal and well-executed. I think the plotting was just right and it ended in a place I felt relatively comfortable leaving their stories behind.
I do wish considering we got three different perspectives that we got some perspective from the kidnapper, Johnathon and even of Lena beforehand. I feel like this would have enhanced the book because although I found Matthais' point of view interesting, I found myself less engaged with his chapters. I was much more interested in the goings-on inside the cabin and how outside life worked for them.
Overall, a fantastic, suspenseful mystery/thriller. I would definitely recommend.
dark
mysterious
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent
◦ Mental illness = PTSD
i picked this book up on a whim not expecting it to be this great. the writing style is so beautiful it really puts you into the characters heads!! so good