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audalia'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? Yes
3.75
ladyreading365's review against another edition
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
3.5
neofista's review
1.25
oh mon dieu rappelez moi de jamais relire de bussi svp c quoi cette daube j’etais cringe tout le long carrement j’ai du sauter des momentd pour lire seulement les dialogues et pour savoir la fin mais c’est trop
jessyjess's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kcfromaustcrime's review
5.0
It's probably not going to come as any surprise to find that DON'T LET GO jumped up the reading queue as quickly as possible, because every novel from Michel Bussi I've read now has been clever, different and intriguing. DON'T LET GO didn't disappoint, it's all of those things and more.
In it we have a family on holidays on the island of La Réunion. Liane leaves her husband Martial and their daughter poolside to head back to their hotel room for a short break and vanishes. There's blood everywhere in the hotel room, but no body. Right from the outset the statements of her husband don't match witness accounts, but there's no sign of Liane Bellion alive or dead. There's plenty of conjecture about murder, how her body could have been disposed of, and lots of suspicion over her husband's possible involvement, not helped when he takes his young daughter and effectively goes on the run.
All of which might sound a little odd, given it's a small island, but this is holiday home territory and Martial Bellion turns out to be a very resourceful man. As is the local cop who leads the chase for him. Despite the higher ups interfering, and the constant pressure to find Bellion, she's calm, methodical and more than a bit annoyed that she can't find the main suspect, the victim or why they are all in this situation in the first place.
DON'T LET GO is the sort of book that grabs the reader from the outset and confuses, confounds and pulls you in. As well as imagination running wild over what could have happened to Liane Bellion, there's never quite knowing what's the story with Martial. Has he killed his wife, in which case what's going to happen to their daughter? Is he a threat to her, or is he trying to save her from something that only he knows about? You're never really sure. But there are aspects of all the characters that confound, confuse and sometimes even annoy a bit.
All of this action, suspense and doubt is interwoven into a great sense of place, infused with the history and culture of Réunion Island, and the intricate social connections that become a big part of the overall story.
All of Michel Bussi's books that I've been fortunate enough to read so far are standalones, so you can dive in at any point. But once you're here, along with what I can't help but think will be an ever increasing fan base, you'll end up like the rest of us. Searching out earlier books and nudging the next to arrive straight to the top of the priority pile as soon as you can.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-dont-let-go-michel-bussi
In it we have a family on holidays on the island of La Réunion. Liane leaves her husband Martial and their daughter poolside to head back to their hotel room for a short break and vanishes. There's blood everywhere in the hotel room, but no body. Right from the outset the statements of her husband don't match witness accounts, but there's no sign of Liane Bellion alive or dead. There's plenty of conjecture about murder, how her body could have been disposed of, and lots of suspicion over her husband's possible involvement, not helped when he takes his young daughter and effectively goes on the run.
All of which might sound a little odd, given it's a small island, but this is holiday home territory and Martial Bellion turns out to be a very resourceful man. As is the local cop who leads the chase for him. Despite the higher ups interfering, and the constant pressure to find Bellion, she's calm, methodical and more than a bit annoyed that she can't find the main suspect, the victim or why they are all in this situation in the first place.
DON'T LET GO is the sort of book that grabs the reader from the outset and confuses, confounds and pulls you in. As well as imagination running wild over what could have happened to Liane Bellion, there's never quite knowing what's the story with Martial. Has he killed his wife, in which case what's going to happen to their daughter? Is he a threat to her, or is he trying to save her from something that only he knows about? You're never really sure. But there are aspects of all the characters that confound, confuse and sometimes even annoy a bit.
All of this action, suspense and doubt is interwoven into a great sense of place, infused with the history and culture of Réunion Island, and the intricate social connections that become a big part of the overall story.
All of Michel Bussi's books that I've been fortunate enough to read so far are standalones, so you can dive in at any point. But once you're here, along with what I can't help but think will be an ever increasing fan base, you'll end up like the rest of us. Searching out earlier books and nudging the next to arrive straight to the top of the priority pile as soon as you can.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-dont-let-go-michel-bussi
rollotreadway's review against another edition
4.0
Despite the four star review, I feel a little frustrated by this. The story is gripping, its twists and turns energetically shaped and well paced. I enjoyed it very much.
But, well, it could and perhaps should have been better. There's the structure of an outstanding work here - as Black Water Lilies was an outstanding work - but it's insufficiently fleshed out. The characters are shallow and basic, fitting too neatly into established tropes without any real development. I didn't reach the end wanting to spend more time with them, and that's always a disappointment.
All that said, there is one character here that's very well developed, believable, likeable, and rich in personality. That character is the island of Réunion. I very much ended up wanting to spend more time there, to understand it better, to see deeper into its heart. I can only wish that Bussi had poured so much of his heart and his energy into the people that populate the island.
So this is really a rounded up 3.5. Exciting at the time, but ultimately forgettable.
But, well, it could and perhaps should have been better. There's the structure of an outstanding work here - as Black Water Lilies was an outstanding work - but it's insufficiently fleshed out. The characters are shallow and basic, fitting too neatly into established tropes without any real development. I didn't reach the end wanting to spend more time with them, and that's always a disappointment.
All that said, there is one character here that's very well developed, believable, likeable, and rich in personality. That character is the island of Réunion. I very much ended up wanting to spend more time there, to understand it better, to see deeper into its heart. I can only wish that Bussi had poured so much of his heart and his energy into the people that populate the island.
So this is really a rounded up 3.5. Exciting at the time, but ultimately forgettable.
nutty_bookseller's review
5.0
I have read three out of the four books by Michel Bussi and have the fourth a signed hardback bought by me waiting in my To be read pile. Not one has disappointed me. If you enjoy following the clues of a very clever writer ,being totally gripped and sat on the edge of your seat then his books are for you. I call books like these time wasters. You'll find any excuse to keep picking them up and reading, losing time.
mrsmangoa's review
4.0
Interesting book and captivating, definitely a writer I’m looking to read more of.
I really liked how it was one plot line and then shifted entirely at the end.
Definite recommend.
I really liked how it was one plot line and then shifted entirely at the end.
Definite recommend.