Scan barcode
mmnebel's review
dark
2.0
ajcramer87's review against another edition
1.0
I gave this book one star because I couldn’t give it zero. The book went in a million different directions and had no depth whatsoever. I never knew who to root for and only continued reading it because I can’t abandon a book after I start it.
sscs's review against another edition
3.0
This well-written, if depressing, book isn't so much a mystery as it is a collection of character studies of people with very sad lives. The sense of place is excellent, one never doubts that the author knows her characters and their setting. But there's something draggy about the whole book.
Late in the book, a character says that books always kill off the characters one most wants to get to know. I'm not sure if that was intended to be true here, but the murder victim seems to have bathed in the same hopelessness everyone else in the book has, so it isn't particularly true here.
This isn't a bad book, and I probably will come back to this author's work, but it is sorely missing the sense of hope that some of the best crime novels maintain in the face of everything.
Late in the book, a character says that books always kill off the characters one most wants to get to know. I'm not sure if that was intended to be true here, but the murder victim seems to have bathed in the same hopelessness everyone else in the book has, so it isn't particularly true here.
This isn't a bad book, and I probably will come back to this author's work, but it is sorely missing the sense of hope that some of the best crime novels maintain in the face of everything.
collie6's review against another edition
2.0
While this book was well written, I still walk away from it with a sense of confusion. I like how it kind of had a "Gone Girl" feel, where you think you know what's going on then something happens which makes you change your mind(or at least I thought, hoped, prayed that that was the case), but in the end you did know what was going on.
More to come......
More to come......
jennthumphries's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stranger_sights's review against another edition
4.0
Oops... I did NOT intend for it to take me so long to write up this review! Ugh, it's been a crazy couple of weeks!
So, about the book:
The Next Time You See Me marks the first time I have won something since I was a small child and won a Burger King sponsored box of Disney's Aladdin crap. I entered a giveaway, and was selected for this book. I'm rather glad that happened. The story was quite good! I wouldn't say it was good enough to make my top ten, but as a debut novel, four stars from Angie the Book Jerk ain't too bad!
The story was well thought out; the characters were well developed and relatable. My only possible issue with this story is that the ending was a little too ambiguous for my taste, but I think that is only because I wanted a firm, final answer for Ronnie, because I grew to care about what happened to her. So, good job Holly Goddard Jones.
One big complaint, which actually has nothing to do with the story or the writer, but I have to know- who was in charge of assembling this book?! I wonder if I got a reject... It was terribly bound. All of the pages are slightly different widths. Doesn't affect readability, but I'm a bit neurotic and was instantly put off by the appearance of the book- minus the jacket of course, which I thought was quite lovely.
So, about the book:
The Next Time You See Me marks the first time I have won something since I was a small child and won a Burger King sponsored box of Disney's Aladdin crap. I entered a giveaway, and was selected for this book. I'm rather glad that happened. The story was quite good! I wouldn't say it was good enough to make my top ten, but as a debut novel, four stars from Angie the Book Jerk ain't too bad!
The story was well thought out; the characters were well developed and relatable. My only possible issue with this story is that the ending was a little too ambiguous for my taste, but I think that is only because I wanted a firm, final answer for Ronnie, because I grew to care about what happened to her. So, good job Holly Goddard Jones.
One big complaint, which actually has nothing to do with the story or the writer, but I have to know- who was in charge of assembling this book?! I wonder if I got a reject... It was terribly bound. All of the pages are slightly different widths. Doesn't affect readability, but I'm a bit neurotic and was instantly put off by the appearance of the book- minus the jacket of course, which I thought was quite lovely.
resareads's review against another edition
4.0
I recieved this book free from the publisher through Goodreads Giveaway program and I have to say this book really exceeded my expectations for it. As a debut novel I thought it would be good but rough, lacking the polish more experienced mystery writers have. But I was wrong. Jones writes her murder like a pro, weaving characters' stories throughout each chapter in a way that keeps you guessing as well as interested.
The novel has four main threads. The first is the story of Emily Houchens, the class "weird girl" who everyone makes fun of, but then it goes beyond that as the popular clique moves to outright hostility. But Emily bares it bravely, as she continues to go to school even though she knows she will be ostracized, mostly because she has a crush on the most popular boy in her class. Then Emily finds a body in the woods behind her house, and things start to change. The body becomes Emily's obsession. And her secret.
The second thread follows that of Susanna Mitchell, a Roma native who did everything the right way. She played by the rules, went to college only to come back and teach at the Roma middle school, and married young. Susanna is a dutiful wife and passionate teacher. The only problem with her pefect life is that she isn't happy, she's fallen out of love with her husband, and she's sick of the people in her small town. When Susanna's sister Ronnie goes missing she's the only one who cares.
The third thread follows that of factory worker Wyatt who has contented himself with a life alone, going to work, coming home, and spending quality time with his dog. Wyatt's life is uncomplicated, simple, the way he wants it to be. Wyatt prefers to take pleasure in thinking about the things that make other people happy than going out and getting happy himself. Then Wyatt has a heart-attack and everything starts to change.
The final thread is that of Ronnie, the bar hopping, former drug-addict sister of Susanna who is missing from page one. She is the driving force of the novel and the only thing that ties these three characters together.
Jones handles these mutliple story lines with ease, no one thread begins to outweigh the others, all of them are given equal importance, a balance that is difficult to find in many novels that try this technique. Jones also manages to weave more than mystery into her story. She manages a realistic coming-of-age story through Emily's voice and experiences without the nicely wrapped up ending that is becoming the norm for many YA stories. In fact, Emily's story is almost painfully realistic, as Jones makes the reader wonder if they would embrace Emily with open arms or turn their head so as to not get involved. Susanna and Wyatt's thread give us a more adult coming-of-age novel as attention is called to the fact that even adults don't have everything figured out.
All set to the background of a small town where everyone knows everyone (past, present, and presumed future) Jones has created a heartfelt mystery that gives you more than just a murder.
The novel has four main threads. The first is the story of Emily Houchens, the class "weird girl" who everyone makes fun of, but then it goes beyond that as the popular clique moves to outright hostility. But Emily bares it bravely, as she continues to go to school even though she knows she will be ostracized, mostly because she has a crush on the most popular boy in her class. Then Emily finds a body in the woods behind her house, and things start to change. The body becomes Emily's obsession. And her secret.
The second thread follows that of Susanna Mitchell, a Roma native who did everything the right way. She played by the rules, went to college only to come back and teach at the Roma middle school, and married young. Susanna is a dutiful wife and passionate teacher. The only problem with her pefect life is that she isn't happy, she's fallen out of love with her husband, and she's sick of the people in her small town. When Susanna's sister Ronnie goes missing she's the only one who cares.
The third thread follows that of factory worker Wyatt who has contented himself with a life alone, going to work, coming home, and spending quality time with his dog. Wyatt's life is uncomplicated, simple, the way he wants it to be. Wyatt prefers to take pleasure in thinking about the things that make other people happy than going out and getting happy himself. Then Wyatt has a heart-attack and everything starts to change.
The final thread is that of Ronnie, the bar hopping, former drug-addict sister of Susanna who is missing from page one. She is the driving force of the novel and the only thing that ties these three characters together.
Jones handles these mutliple story lines with ease, no one thread begins to outweigh the others, all of them are given equal importance, a balance that is difficult to find in many novels that try this technique. Jones also manages to weave more than mystery into her story. She manages a realistic coming-of-age story through Emily's voice and experiences without the nicely wrapped up ending that is becoming the norm for many YA stories. In fact, Emily's story is almost painfully realistic, as Jones makes the reader wonder if they would embrace Emily with open arms or turn their head so as to not get involved. Susanna and Wyatt's thread give us a more adult coming-of-age novel as attention is called to the fact that even adults don't have everything figured out.
All set to the background of a small town where everyone knows everyone (past, present, and presumed future) Jones has created a heartfelt mystery that gives you more than just a murder.
kelc40's review against another edition
5.0
If you like Gillian Flynn and mysteries that incorporate a lot of characters you will like this book. It was a read till you can't read anymore kind of book. loved it
joan_anne's review against another edition
2.0
It seemed like she gave up in the last 1/4 of the book and didn't tie anything together or give closure. I enjoyed it up until then but disappointed enough to give it two stars.
bookmerized's review against another edition
1.0
This book was pretty terrible. Jones is like the Dickens of murder mysteries that aren't mysteries. If you like characterization (and only characterization) then it's perfect. All the major conflicts go unresolved. Blech.