Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

59 reviews

emgwh's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Child death

Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Death, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Addiction, and Child abuse

Minor: Death of parent

nick_00's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

This book is very predictable and I’m not a person who always figures things out. I knew exactly how this would unfold from the earlier chapters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

tjowaterman's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Kidnapping and Sexual assault

emilyholds's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Death, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Minor: Animal cruelty

entangled_bookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This murder, kidnapping mystery woven with a real life crime, is a very gripping tense read. I had higher hopes for this book and wasn't expecting this storyline exactly. To note their are horror descriptions about kidnapping and rape in this book. I don't think this'll be a re read for me because of this and I was tempted to put it down in the middle of the book. I did continue though as I had to know who was behind it all. The storyline tied well together, I can't recall any plot holes, and that fast paced sudden ending will stay with me.

Well worth also reading the authors note in the end of the book aswell, if you're planning to pick it up. 🙋‍♀️

"For the longest time I stand on Lansing Street, thinking about beauty and
terror. Evil. Grace. Suffering. Joy. How they’re all here every day,
everywhere. Teaching us how to keep stepping forward into our lives, our
purpose." (335)

"Someone she mistook for a life jacket
when she felt she was drowning inside". (167)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Rape, and Murder

cassidy_rain's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

I wanted to like this but it fell a little flat for me. I did think it was interesting how she incorporated real missing persons from the time into the storyline. I love that it’s based in the bay area because I live here and appreciate all the references. I liked the storyline but the pacing felt really slow for me. I also thought it was quite predictable. Check trigger/content warnings!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Rape, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Torture, and Kidnapping

miraculeus's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

I really liked the (dark) atmosphere and the descriptions of nature in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Child death, Abandonment, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Animal cruelty

shelsy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Kidnapping

caitrunswild's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Addiction, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, Rape, and Sexual assault

cassiek2's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.25

Uneven writing, unbelievable circumstances, and unlikeable protagonist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Alcohol, and Sexual violence