Scan barcode
amelia_horseman's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
iriswhatiris's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Grief, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infertility, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Pedophilia, Miscarriage, and Rape
someryarns'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault
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
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).selene_nyxly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Murder, Child death, and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia and Miscarriage
shinypurplepants's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not for me, reasons in spoilers just in case.
As a black femme, I am often treated as a threat despite my femininity so all the proto-feminist "but women can murder toooo" made me really upset and the focus over and over and over on White Beauty was annoying at best and distracting fluff that took away from any building tension at worst.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders
litliz'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
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death of parent, Rape, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infertility
ravenpuff's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Death, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, and Misogyny