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kirstenpod_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Child death and Gun violence
Minor: Stalking
kmsander4's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I'll be honest, I was really tempted to give this one 2 stars. But the reality is it was fine. There was a solid mystery that I didn't fully figure out until the reveal was made. And the premise is exactly what you get, I just feel like it could have been more.
The short glimpses into everyone's lives didn't give me enough to actually *really* care whether they lived or died, and the lack of solid investigating made it difficult to actually feel like I was with them trying to unravel the mystery. I just sort of felt like I was along for the ride.
The tipping point - and the thing that almost caused the 2 star rating - was the final chapter. I think it was a cheap way out to have Jessica still be alive. In fact, when I finished the section where she "died", all I could comment on was how her hubris had led to her death. I didn't think she deserved to die - obviously - but I did think her cockiness and reliance on "I'm a cop, nothing can hurt me" leading to her downfall may have been fitting.
I also think this story would have majorly benefitted from actually hearing from the parents! Or at least having a true investigation being done into their lives. Leaving this untouched really resulted in me feeling detached, which is never a great feeling!
It could have been worse, but with the premise, I was hoping for better.
The short glimpses into everyone's lives didn't give me enough to actually *really* care whether they lived or died, and the lack of solid investigating made it difficult to actually feel like I was with them trying to unravel the mystery. I just sort of felt like I was along for the ride.
I also think this story would have majorly benefitted from actually hearing from the parents! Or at least having a true investigation being done into their lives. Leaving this untouched really resulted in me feeling detached, which is never a great feeling!
It could have been worse, but with the premise, I was hoping for better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Child death and Suicide
wrestleacademic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gun violence, and Child death
Minor: Suicide, Homophobia, and Racism
Drowninghaleea's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
2.5
listened on audio
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
typedtruths's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
1.25 ★
i'm offended on agatha christie's behalf
▷ Representation: Arthur (mc) is gay; Sam (mc) is Jamaican; Jessica (mc) is mixed race, Vietnamese & Black (adopted by a white family with limited knowledge of her heritage).
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
i'm offended on agatha christie's behalf
▷ Representation: Arthur (mc) is gay; Sam (mc) is Jamaican; Jessica (mc) is mixed race, Vietnamese & Black (adopted by a white family with limited knowledge of her heritage).
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Misogyny, Stalking, Grief, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Car accident, Sexual assault, Racism, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
➸ Trigger warnings for misogyny, racism mentioned, ableism (r slur, on-page), sexual assault mentioned (groping), child abuse and neglect recounted including a mention of child sexual assault, spousal abandonment, abusive relationship (scs), cheating, sex work (on-page), familial estrangement mentioned, alcohol consumption (on-page), alcohol abuse (implied), recreational drug use (on-page), chronic leg injury, grief and loss depiction, death of a girlfriend from oxycontin overdose mentioned, death of a husband and a pet dog in a car accident recounted, death of a sister from drowning recounted, murder by drowning, murder by gun violence, murder by poisoning, stalking, and animal dead body mentioned (seagull).minbyrnes's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
In terms of story, I don’t think it was as bad as people make it out to be. But I’m not that big of a mystery/thriller reader so I can’t really tell the difference between a good and bad one. I thought it was a fun enough read. I agree that And Then There Were None did it better though.
What I really didn’t like was the use of the n-word (with a hard R too!) I had to look it up and the author and narrator are white. It made me really uncomfortable hearing the words being said. I know that the characters who say the word are black but why did the author even include that? There was absolutely NO reason in my opinion? The character didn’t even play a big role in the story? His sole role was to bring up Agatha Christie’s book and make the connection between this novel and And Then There Were None, like, “haha, see what I did there?” I see and I hate it.
I didn’t really mind the motive. I’ve never understood killers so them having a stupid/silly motive clocks to me. And I actually liked the Jack/Johnathan bit. Minus the part where he talks about Alison in the letter. That was gross.
Also, I was HAPPY when one of the characters died so I had that going for me.
I didn’t understand why Jessica survived was included. I guess it was supposed to be a twist that the readers could try and guess since they never mentioned her death in the news or whatever but besides that I didn’t get the significance.
Idk overall it was ok but I hate when racist language is included. Especially if there was NO REASON TO.
What I really didn’t like was the use of the n-word (with a hard R too!) I had to look it up and the author and narrator are white. It made me really uncomfortable hearing the words being said. I know that the characters who say the word are black but why did the author even include that? There was absolutely NO reason in my opinion? The character didn’t even play a big role in the story? His sole role was to bring up Agatha Christie’s book and make the connection between this novel and And Then There Were None, like, “haha, see what I did there?” I see and I hate it.
I didn’t really mind the motive. I’ve never understood killers so them having a stupid/silly motive clocks to me. And I actually liked
Also, I was HAPPY when one of the characters died so I had that going for me.
I didn’t understand why
Idk overall it was ok but I hate when racist language is included. Especially if there was NO REASON TO.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Murder and Child death
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
I don’t know how to tag this but just… disgusting character inner monologues? It’s far from the worst that’s out there but I was glad that person diedsavvy_b's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a fun modern retake on “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Child death
jessicanb93's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It’s been a long time since I’ve rated a book a 1*. It honestly would’ve been higher but the author had to use a racial slur several times when talking about a book title that added nothing to the plot. It didn’t further the plot line along or add anything to the story. On top of that, there were way too many characters we were following and the big reveal at the end was pretty boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Death
Minor: Child death
emawhin's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Gun violence
kimberlyswalters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking