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ajay913's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
jillie's review
4.25
Read if you like:
- dual timelines (done well)
- creepy atmosphere
- slight paranormal elements
November 2023
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Minor: Sexual assault and Forced institutionalization
cyndi1966's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and Addiction
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Rape
jjames_mal's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another spooky murder mystery about a murder that happened years ago. I don’t know why but these books seem to always follow a pattern, not that I’m complaining. I liked the characters and the mystery, with the only thing stopping me from giving it 5 stars being the true crime aspect that had just a smidge of the whole some people are just evil and cops are good rhetoric which I know this type of book did not have to deconstruct, but it still made me uncomfy. But overall I loved the creepy house and the ghosts that feel like a staple for St. James’s books.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a little paranormal in their murder mystery, and I’ll be continuing to pick up anything Simone St. James writes.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Addiction, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence
Moderate: Car accident and Cursing
Minor: Terminal illness, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Infertility
jmkendall0218's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, and Gun violence
maddiearthur's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Alcoholism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Car accident, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
katergirl12's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Pedophilia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
cassielaj'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
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape and Suicide
This book is not for the faint of heart.jillianalice's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn’t like the paranormal aspects of the book and found that portion unbelievable. Otherwise, I love the author’s writing style and the atmosphere she creates.
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexism, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Death, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Pedophilia, and Rape
lilacs_book_bower's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Gun violence, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Bullying, and Child abuse
With thrillers like this, there are always a lot of CWs, so please check them before reading, if necessary. This book was a solid mystery, but St James's novels (of the two I have read, at least), are more about the characters and how they solve the mystery and their own traumas, rather than shocking last minute reveals. The solutions are not really that surprising. I couldn't help but comparing this to the author's book, The Broken Girls, and this one felt like a lesser (and less interesting) version. There are a LOT of surface level similarities with the character types, a spooky building, even careers of the the heroine and hero. The two main characters here were semi-decently fleshed out, but the other minor characters really weren't. I read it in literally one sitting, but more just to be done with it, rather than that I couldn't put it down. All the same, I would still give St. James another try. This was solid (and The Broken Girls was very well-done and memorable).