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emilyswift's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Death, and Emotional abuse
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood and Violence
corporealmystic's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Bullying, Confinement, Murder, Stalking, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Stalking, Alcohol, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Stalking
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Alcohol, Grief, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Cancer, Cursing, and Bullying
add_a_little_spook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Grief, Kidnapping, and Alcoholism
augustinedreams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, Medical content, Alcoholism, Child death, Alcohol, Death of parent, Violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Pregnancy and Panic attacks/disorders
megelizabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
For the first half, or even two thirds, of this book, I was absolutely obsessed with it and thought it might end up being a five-star read. The atmosphere created is incredible - so so creepy and unsettling - and the premise is super intriguing. I loved getting to know the characters, even though for the most part they weren't particularly likeable, and I found myself feeling equal parts terrified and heartbroken, which is a sure sign of a great thriller. There are some great twists and turns, and there's one plot twist in particular which absolutely floored me and which is just so, so brilliantly done.
However, for me, this book unfortunately started to go downhill a bit in the last third or so. There's such great build-up, and I liked the concept of what ends up being revealed, but it's just revealed far too early and too simply and it just meant that so much of the great tension that had been developing was gone. There are also a few unanswered questions left by the end. There's one thing that happens towards the end of the book which did shock me, but when it came to the main 'Whisper Man' plotline, I did feel ultimately a bit let down.
I was therefore a bit conflicted when deciding on my rating, but ultimately I still feel it deserves a high rating just because of how much the earlier part of the book got under my skin and how brilliant one of the earlier twists was, and also because of the way it deals with some of its themes. There are really great conversations about generational trauma, grief, addiction, and memory, and about some of the psychology behind crime and policing, and I also loved the way it explores and looks at fatherhood and father-son relationships. And overall, while I did feel disappointed by the conclusion of the central mystery, I was still left feeling haunted and uneasy and, above all, sad. It's definitely a book that hits you in the gut and makes you think; I just wish the actual main thriller plotline had been better-executed.
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Blood
mandysbookcollection's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
adiisbookland91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Violence, Grief, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, and Stalking