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stephanie_jmc's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Another book club read and probably the earliest I’ve ever started /finished a book club book - I usually am racing to read them the days before we meet ! This one gets a 6.2/10.
Honestly, the book was very intriguing at first. I raced through the first 120 pages or so pretty quickly - and then maintained my pace because I was committed to finishing the book fast. But it gets very repetitive and boring. A nonstop cycle of chapters that alternate between 5 characters, all of which seem to always end on cliff hangers with very minimal, if any, progress happening in the book. Nothing really happens until the last 30ish pages and then it all happens really fast. The ending was annoying as well but I really can’t expand on that more without giving spoilers. There’s also not really a whole lot of “fair” hints to make it fun to try and guess who did it. (Guessing who did it is my favourite part about mystery books).
It’s possible that because this was also a mystery “who dun it” book that does not remotely measure up to the mystery book I just read/posted about, I’m being a bit harsher on this novel as a result. The writing is simple, it does keep you wondering, but ultimately was kind of a “meh” book overall. I wouldn’t recommend against it, but I also wouldn’t actively promote it. If you’re really into mysteries / cliff hangers - you might like this book !
Honestly, the book was very intriguing at first. I raced through the first 120 pages or so pretty quickly - and then maintained my pace because I was committed to finishing the book fast. But it gets very repetitive and boring. A nonstop cycle of chapters that alternate between 5 characters, all of which seem to always end on cliff hangers with very minimal, if any, progress happening in the book. Nothing really happens until the last 30ish pages and then it all happens really fast. The ending was annoying as well but I really can’t expand on that more without giving spoilers. There’s also not really a whole lot of “fair” hints to make it fun to try and guess who did it. (Guessing who did it is my favourite part about mystery books).
It’s possible that because this was also a mystery “who dun it” book that does not remotely measure up to the mystery book I just read/posted about, I’m being a bit harsher on this novel as a result. The writing is simple, it does keep you wondering, but ultimately was kind of a “meh” book overall. I wouldn’t recommend against it, but I also wouldn’t actively promote it. If you’re really into mysteries / cliff hangers - you might like this book !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Incest, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Suicide attempt
pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Sexual assault
xabbeylongx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Spoilers Ahead:
I must say, it took me a while to get into this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was in the end.
We started off really slowly, following multiple POVS throughout the story. We start off with Ella, the 'Witness', who spots two men getting friendly with two very young girls on the train. As the story continues, we find out that they are felons, just released from prison, and Ella wants to get involved, but doesn't, as she realises that it isn't her job to do that. However, she soon regrets that decision.
Anna and Sarah were on their way to London when they were approached by these felons, but only Sarah made it back. At first, a lot of people blame Ella, because she came forward with the evidence but didn't do anything else other than that. She starts to receive threatening postcards, so she hires a Private Investigator, Matt, to look into it for her. She assumes it's Anna's mother, as Ella once visited her after learning of Anna's disappearance, but there is no evidence to suggest it so far.
Sarah feels guilty about Anna's disappearance, so she lies about her whereabouts that night. It is true, they were talking to the felons, but also, she wanted one of they boy's attention so badly that she told Anna to just go home when she asked if they could leave. That was the last time she saw Anna. She TW overdoses on pills, as she thinks about the fact her father might be involved. When she was younger, she was TW sexually assaulted by him, but she didn't think to tell anyone. But then, she finds out her sister, Lily, went through the same thing, and their mother knew but never believed them. They never considered their father's role in her disappearance, until they remember about how many photos he took, and how beautiful he thought Anna was, and Anna even showed Sarah a message about him coming to get her. She finally comes clean to the police.
Unfortunately, Sarah's father and the two felons have alibis, so the case goes cold, and the chances of finding Anna lowers considerably. They decide to visit Anna's mother again, after a fake hostage scenario in Spain with one of the felons. But when they get there, something isn't quite right. There is a photo of someone in their house, someone who was also on the train with them. Tim, one of Anna's friends, who was said to have had an alibi somewhere that was nowhere near Anna.
And because of the postcards, Ella has been avoiding work, and she's had to hire some people to do that. Said people are being interviewed by her son, Luke, now. One of them being Tim, who knifes Luke for even just being in the same group as Anna. Luckily, he prevails but they find Anna in a freezer - not alive. Turns out Tim had a problem with anyone else talking to, or even looking, at Anna, and it had reached a creepy obsession. He fell into a coma, but he was arrested and charged for murder in the end.
The postcards were from Jenny, Anna's sister, although she only sent 2, and Tim sent the rest after he found out what she was doing.
It was a tough read, but a good read, this book. First of all, can I just say the plot twist? *chefs kiss* I love love LOVE books with a plot twist, and this is one of the greatest ones yet. I had considered just about everyone else, wondering how they were all linked up and everything, and I briefly considered Tim, but it wasn't serious. The observation where Ella finds him in the photo and destroys his alibi? Chills. Literal chills. I loved the whole story, although I did think some bits weren't necessary. Luke's story was a nice addition, but it didn't further the plot or his character development, in my opinion, so it didn't do much for me. And looking into Anna's father, it was made to seem like he'd done something more sinister to her, making him seem more suspicious, when he'd just cheated. Still not great, but definitely better than the alternative.
I do like the reconciliation at the end, a mutual understanding between Anna's mother and Ella. I think it was very melancholic, after all that not finding Anna alive - I was with the mother, I was sure she'd make it. I don't know why, if Tim liked her so much, why he would do that in the first place? It's very saddening. But a really nice book to read, and a very intriguing plotline and finale.
I must say, it took me a while to get into this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was in the end.
We started off really slowly, following multiple POVS throughout the story. We start off with Ella, the 'Witness', who spots two men getting friendly with two very young girls on the train. As the story continues, we find out that they are felons, just released from prison, and Ella wants to get involved, but doesn't, as she realises that it isn't her job to do that. However, she soon regrets that decision.
Anna and Sarah were on their way to London when they were approached by these felons, but only Sarah made it back. At first, a lot of people blame Ella, because she came forward with the evidence but didn't do anything else other than that. She starts to receive threatening postcards, so she hires a Private Investigator, Matt, to look into it for her. She assumes it's Anna's mother, as Ella once visited her after learning of Anna's disappearance, but there is no evidence to suggest it so far.
Sarah feels guilty about Anna's disappearance, so she lies about her whereabouts that night. It is true, they were talking to the felons, but also, she wanted one of they boy's attention so badly that she told Anna to just go home when she asked if they could leave. That was the last time she saw Anna. She TW overdoses on pills, as she thinks about the fact her father might be involved. When she was younger, she was TW sexually assaulted by him, but she didn't think to tell anyone. But then, she finds out her sister, Lily, went through the same thing, and their mother knew but never believed them. They never considered their father's role in her disappearance, until they remember about how many photos he took, and how beautiful he thought Anna was, and Anna even showed Sarah a message about him coming to get her. She finally comes clean to the police.
Unfortunately, Sarah's father and the two felons have alibis, so the case goes cold, and the chances of finding Anna lowers considerably. They decide to visit Anna's mother again, after a fake hostage scenario in Spain with one of the felons. But when they get there, something isn't quite right. There is a photo of someone in their house, someone who was also on the train with them. Tim, one of Anna's friends, who was said to have had an alibi somewhere that was nowhere near Anna.
And because of the postcards, Ella has been avoiding work, and she's had to hire some people to do that. Said people are being interviewed by her son, Luke, now. One of them being Tim, who knifes Luke for even just being in the same group as Anna. Luckily, he prevails but they find Anna in a freezer - not alive. Turns out Tim had a problem with anyone else talking to, or even looking, at Anna, and it had reached a creepy obsession. He fell into a coma, but he was arrested and charged for murder in the end.
The postcards were from Jenny, Anna's sister, although she only sent 2, and Tim sent the rest after he found out what she was doing.
It was a tough read, but a good read, this book. First of all, can I just say the plot twist? *chefs kiss* I love love LOVE books with a plot twist, and this is one of the greatest ones yet. I had considered just about everyone else, wondering how they were all linked up and everything, and I briefly considered Tim, but it wasn't serious. The observation where Ella finds him in the photo and destroys his alibi? Chills. Literal chills. I loved the whole story, although I did think some bits weren't necessary. Luke's story was a nice addition, but it didn't further the plot or his character development, in my opinion, so it didn't do much for me. And looking into Anna's father, it was made to seem like he'd done something more sinister to her, making him seem more suspicious, when he'd just cheated. Still not great, but definitely better than the alternative.
I do like the reconciliation at the end, a mutual understanding between Anna's mother and Ella. I think it was very melancholic, after all that not finding Anna alive - I was with the mother, I was sure she'd make it. I don't know why, if Tim liked her so much, why he would do that in the first place? It's very saddening. But a really nice book to read, and a very intriguing plotline and finale.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
kaithebookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Wow wow wow! I didn’t see that twist coming but now it all makes sense 🤯
Ok here’s my review: I think this was definitely slow-pace for me. It didn’t start to pick up until about the last 60 pages. I would consider this one a slow burn with the anticipation building slowly to the end. I don’t normally like to read books like that as I like my books to be a page-turner within the first chapter. HOWEVER, I think the plot itself was intriguing enough to keep the pages turning. I didn’t feel a connection with Ella (sorry!) nor with anyone really besides Sarah. I wish she had gotten another chapter at the end, but here we are. Overall, I recommend if you’re into slow-burn books.
Ok here’s my review: I think this was definitely slow-pace for me. It didn’t start to pick up until about the last 60 pages. I would consider this one a slow burn with the anticipation building slowly to the end. I don’t normally like to read books like that as I like my books to be a page-turner within the first chapter. HOWEVER, I think the plot itself was intriguing enough to keep the pages turning. I didn’t feel a connection with Ella (sorry!) nor with anyone really besides Sarah. I wish she had gotten another chapter at the end, but here we are. Overall, I recommend if you’re into slow-burn books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia
msfaltersbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Murder
Minor: Self harm
booksofautumn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
beckyremillard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Murder, Suicide attempt, Stalking, and Death
Moderate: Eating disorder and Self harm
mackenziesimpson's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Grief, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
hannah_jane_e's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved this book! It’s very well written and the plot is FABULOUS.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Stalking
Moderate: Sexual assault, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Self harm and Torture
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