Reviews

Where the Crawfish Swim by Andrea Smith

duchessofreadin's review

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4.0

This was an interesting read overall. Anything Hatfield and McCoy is always an interesting story. But as an undercover officer, trying to figure out what is going on, it can be an interesting relationship within the community. When eight family members are murdered, the case becomes one of much more than just drugs.

Great for true crime fans!

pattyfgd's review

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5.0

Where the Crawfish Swim
By: Andrea Smith
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

There is nothing better than sinking your teeth into a good mystery. When it has some historical basis, it makes the story even better. Andrea Smith has written Dalton Edward's mission to find reason behind the same day massacre of 8 Hatfield family members. Taking us into Briar County Ohio, the feud between the Hatfield and McCoys is still going strong. But can we blame the murders on a family with no proof? Edwards digs in and searches, getting himself in the thick of things, finding himself on the outs with his own and still trying to find the truth. It's intriguing and is a great play on the western enemy families creating a fantastic listen.

Alexander Cendese is fantastic. He creates a town of amazing characters, each voiced with a distinct characteristic. I love his accents, his ability to age his voice, his playfulness, and his venomous tone. He found something for each personality and brought them alive. Listening is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!

shauntelle_reads's review against another edition

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2.0

I liked the premise of this book, but fictionalizing something of this magnitude teeters on a fine line. This book lacks the empathy that is necessary to accomplish basing a fiction book on a true crime massacre. There was no clear plot of this story nor was there much suspense.

I would have loved more depth to the characters. The character development was surface level, and I couldn’t connect with any of them. There was also misogynistic tones in the writing that wasn’t appeasing. I’m giving this one two stars since I did force my way through it. This was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

mhmrose's review

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dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 Following an undercover agent in a small town in America, Where the Crawfish Swim is an amazing blend of true crime and fictionalisation that is very respectful to the actual events. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys true crime and crime fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

quinnreads2's review

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4.0

Hatfields and McCoys

4.5 stars - There's a different kind of Hatfields and McCoys going down here. The fact that it's based on a real event makes me sad but I know that some people are just bad. Either way, I did like the writing and storytelling.

There were a couple of areas that I would've liked more details, but the story was a compelling listen. One of those areas is more information on Dalton. I do like that he comes across very personable.

I received an author's copy of the audio book to accompany my book. The narrator is Alexander Cendese. This is the first book that I've listened to him. I do like him and the variety of characters he presented.

NOTE: This was previously published as [b:Murders on the Ridge: Mystery in Briar County|60132367|Murders on the Ridge Mystery in Briar County|Andrea Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642279976l/60132367._SY75_.jpg|78639567].

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.5x

pompom_reads_a_lot's review

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5.0

It’s a modern-day the Hatfields & McCoy’s saga. Literally.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to review.

I DEVOURED this book! In less than 24 hours.

As a true crime buff, I didn’t know a lot about this case…just the basics. This fictionalization is fantastic. I would actually like to see follow up on where Dalton Edwards takes his career next!!

I will be picking up more of Andrea Smith’s books!

ritareads15's review

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medium-paced

4.0

marissalazar's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

2.0

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