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kimberlyswalters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, Death, and Violence
Minor: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Grief, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting
felofhe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Stalking, Trafficking, Car accident, Alcohol, Ableism, Bullying, Abandonment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, and Death
rorikae's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Told through audio files, mostly voice recordings, the story centers on Steven Smith, a man trying to find his way after getting out of prison. After his release, he becomes obsessed with the Twyford Code, a code in a series of children’s books that he found when he was a child. The code is connected to the disappearance of one of his favorite teachers and Steven believes that he can not only crack the code but also figure out what happened to his teach all of those years ago.
Hallett does a great job of utilizing the audio files to tell a story where you’re never quite sure what is true. Since we are getting the story primarily through Steven’s audio recordings, including his own recollections of encounters with acquaintances, it leaves the truth of what is going on up in the air as he begins to unravel the code.
There was a point towards the end where the story was heading in a direction I wasn’t a fan of but Hallett did manage to bring the story around to a satisfying conclusion.
The audiobook is a great option for this story since the story is told through audio files. I do wish there had been a few more narrators incorporated to make it feel more like an audio drama but I also understand that ultimately this wouldn’t have served the story.
I’m interested to read more of Hallett’s work since I love stories told through letters, documents, audio files, and the like.
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, Death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: War, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
tamara_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, War, Gun violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Death
lucielockettreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
(I have to say I found working out the codes very confusing and so I left it up to the book to reveal them to me instead, but I didn’t get lost too often to worry)
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol