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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wish i could give. 2.5. It was an interesting plot but the writing felt like it was trying to hard to illustrate a scene by telling us rather than showing us. The plot twist and reveal felt very “Frozen”-esque that I could see it from a mile away. The dialogue also just felt unnatural. I wanted to be invested in any of the characters but truly Kenny was the only person I was somewhat rooting for.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a big miss for me. I found the synopsis on NetGalley intriguing and was expecting a suspenseful thriller, but that’s not what this turned out to be.
The main character, Hazel Cho, was awful. At first I thought she was going to be a little quirky, maybe a little scatter-brained and unconventional in her approach. Nope. She was unlikable, unfocused, and unprofessional. She often ran late for meetings or missed them entirely, and when she did finally get to meetings she was hungover or wearing the same clothes she slept in. Odd behavior for someone who needs the money from this case to pay for her living expenses and to keep her business afloat.
It was exhausting listening to her think about all of her rules for private investigating.
The main character, Hazel Cho, was awful. At first I thought she was going to be a little quirky, maybe a little scatter-brained and unconventional in her approach. Nope. She was unlikable, unfocused, and unprofessional. She often ran late for meetings or missed them entirely, and when she did finally get to meetings she was hungover or wearing the same clothes she slept in. Odd behavior for someone who needs the money from this case to pay for her living expenses and to keep her business afloat.
It was exhausting listening to her think about all of her rules for private investigating.
- “One of the first rules of being a private investigator is don’t trust your client”
- “The second you stop learning is the second you stop being a good private investigator”
- “When you’re a private investigator you get a sixth sense for moral rot like something gone bad in your refrigerator”
- “The second you stop learning is the second you stop being a good private investigator”
- “When you’re a private investigator you get a sixth sense for moral rot like something gone bad in your refrigerator”
There are more examples of this throughout the book and it didn’t help make her character any more likable. Stop thinking about these things and show us through your actions and through your efforts to solve the mystery. There was too much telling instead of showing. We’re in Hazel’s head for a lot of the book and most of what we learn we learn because we’re privy to Hazel’s thoughts and she gives us the information.
It was also obvious that Hazel was written by a man. I’m not someone who thinks men can never write women, but in this case it just didn’t work. A lot of her thoughts and actions didn’t feel true to a female character.
We hear a lot about Hazel’s weight and body throughout the book. Early on we learn that ten years ago she had a body that "wouldn’t quit" and since then she’s put on 15 pounds and now worries about collapsing chairs with her weight and busting the seams of dresses. At one point the only dress she has for an event is a skintight dress from when she was younger and skinnier. She describes putting on the dress as stuffing a sausage into a casing, but somehow once the dress is on it still fits and looks good on her because the tightness of the dress somehow smooths out the lumps on her body. Where did she get this miracle dress? Inquiring minds want to know.
While working the case Hazel can’t interact with any men near her age without looking at them as potential love interests. One of these men is so beautiful that all eyes follow him wherever he goes. When they’re together she has to get used to people staring as they walk by because they’re unable to take their eyes off of him. Really?!? Come on! He also gives her such full attention that it’s like having a permanent spotlight shining on her, and when she’s with him she’s the most important person in the world. Mind you, they met THREE DAYS BEFORE THIS and this is all happening while she’s working what is supposedly the most important case of her career.
A lot of this book felt very superficial. Because there was so much telling instead of showing it made it difficult to care about any of the characters or the mystery and potential twists. The book took a bit of a dark turn when the twist was introduced and it felt like the tone of the writing didn’t match the seriousness and the darkness that the investigation revealed. There was also a lot of build up throughout the book only for there to be a quick resolution.
The synopsis of this book grabbed my attention immediately and the cover is great. Ultimately, it just didn’t live up to its promise.
Thanks NetGally and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes