Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis

8 reviews

pryorlee's review

dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Violence

Minor: Antisemitism and War

dev921's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, War, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Cancer, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Medical content, Outing, and Grief

beckyremillard's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Antisemitism, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Cancer

Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, and Rape

arthur_pendrgn's review

slow-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

2.25

Trauma as character development.  Way too much going on that clutters up the plot: cancer (2 characters), infidelity (2 of these), break ups, domestic abuse, multigenerational rape, Holocaust trauma, lesbianism (1 hidden), unhappy marriages (at least 4), a missing masterpiece, infertility issues, jealousy, sociopathy, betrayal, murders (2), assault, a custody fight, a potential romance, 2 side mysteries that don't matter, 2 children-as-plot-props, gun & knife violence, and an improbable rescue. That doesn't include the 4 narrators who, sadly, have indistinguishable voices.

Underneath all of that are the bones of a tried-but-true plot. If only the plot had been trimmed down so we could actually focus on a murdered grandmother with a lot of money at stake. Goldis left no time for the reader to connect with anyone. (Honestly, the murderous couple in the last chapter would have been enough rationale.)  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Infidelity

Moderate: Death, Gore, and Violence

Minor: Pedophilia, Incest, Cancer, Antisemitism, Blood, Terminal illness, Classism, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Rape

katefrost's review

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

2.0

Reading this book about a group of what I can only think to describe as grown up frenemies with trust issues, in this, the year of the Barbie movie, felt bananas. Though it absolutely passes the Bechdel test, the relationships between these women are full of judgement and. back biting, when they’re bothering to communicate at all. Each of the four main characters seem to harbor the belief that each is an island unto herself and no one could possibly understand her (so why bother using words to talk to your oldest and dearest friends). 

I feel so frustrated with the predictably pat ending to this frustrating set of interactions. I will say it made me deeply grateful for my own group of friends, because murder mysteries aside, I cannot imagine any of us being so consistently shitty toward one another. 

The unnecessarily mind boggling secrecy around even the most banal topics throughout this book was a deeply frustrating experience. I wanted to shake each of these women for their theatrics and make them use their words. I finished reading it through sheer stubbornness on my part. 

It’s done now and I’m relieved that I can stop thinking about these self absorbed jerks. Two stars for its vibes and pacing, but no thank you please to any more of these characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Genocide

greatestheights's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Infertility

kecresser's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The setting for this book was super intriguing to me, and it was the second thriller I've read recently set in a palatial estate. I can honestly say that I didn't see the major twists coming and I didn't know who the killers was, all the way until the last chapter. It takes a bit to get the four women straight in the beginning of the book, and I wish we had a bit more time for each character to develop, but I do love a multi-perspective story that keeps you guessing on who the unreliable narrator actually is. It was a page turner that I read in a day, but nothing too spectacular. I enjoyed the reading experience, but nothing really stands out to me that I think will stick with me in the long run. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Violence, Infidelity, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Murder

Moderate: Classism, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Stalking, Infertility, Child death, Rape, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Car accident

spindancefye's review

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Character Development: 4/5

Warnings: Language, Violence

Themes: Mystery, Thriller

The Cheteau is about a group of friends who are invited back to one of their grandma’s house for a mysterious reason. When the same grandma is found murdered they try to find out who did it and at the same time try to keep their own secrets hidden. This was a great mystery full of well written characters. The mystery was well drawn out and I didn’t see the ending coming. Their were a few instances that made me a little uncomfortable but overall I enjoy the story.

This book is great for anyone who loves a who done it mystery and learning about secrects of friends that have known each other for many years.

I received an arc of this book and am leaving an honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence