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thereadedit's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Unsettling: π¬π¬π¬π¬π¬
SCARY: π»π»π»/5
DEATH: ππππ/5
INTRIGUE: π§ π§ π§ π§ π§
Creepy: πππ/5
The Book Of Cold Cases packs a punch that I never expected. When I picked this up I knew that I was going to fall hard when the story really started. In Simone St. James fashion, she did the damn thing.
I have been a Simone stan for the last few books and I knew I couldn't not read this. And I was right. It was fantastic. I loved how well the characters were well fleshed out and really brought them to life. Simone covered an aspect of crimes that some people won't and she covered it well. These characters brought so much to life, whether it was the storyline or just the feeling you have while reading.
I was constantly questioning what was real and what wasn't. Whether it be from Beth's life or Shaes with many circumstances. But it was the best guessing I have had in a while. And I cannot say enough good things about this book.
Do yourself a favor and pick it up!!!
Graphic: Murder, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Rape
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
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
honeywine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There are ghosts, which I love, and the main character is likable and relatable. Iβd recommend this book to people who like darker stories and paranormal sprinklings.
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Stalking, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Confinement, Child death, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Pedophilia, Torture, and Car accident
et3rnali33's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
what the fuck is one response to this book but, oh my god is the second.
This was made for the thriller/suspense/mystery book lovers. With a hint of paranormal activity which would make my eyes wateryβ¦yes im a little bitch lolol
No but really, I kinda wish I read this during Fall not summer because it is an intense and creepy yet mysterious read that through off my summer vibes haha. But, you will definitely be hooked and the twist and turns you take trying to solve and crack the case with Shea.
Definitely recommend again for those who love thriller/suspense novels!! Not to mention there is duo POV with first and third person along with court transcripts that added more to the experience!
I WISH THE PODCASTS AND TRANSCRIPTS ACTUALLY COULD BE HEARD WITH A QRCODE OR SOMETHING!!! That wouldβve been a BETTER experience <3
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Sexual assault, Stalking, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Murder
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.0
I have so many conflicting feelings on this one so let's go:
Positives! I liked the dual timelines, but I definitely liked the 1970's timeline better. I think that Simone St. James' strength is definitely in period pieces, and while I know that the present day perspective is necessary for the book to work, I just liked the past timeline better. I thought that the spooky scenes were extra spooky and often made me scared to turn my light out, and that addition to the plot made things way more interesting and tragic to me. There was one character who I thought was absolutely terrifying and interesting and I enjoyed every scene with her, but I'm not going to say more than that because spoilers. I thought some parts were predictable, but not in a way that angered me, more in a way where I was glad to have my suspicions confirmed.
That's kind of where my positives end? I feel torn, because there were parts of this I really enjoyed, but then there were so many parts that I thought could've been done better if someone else had written it. Before page 140, I was considering a DNF, but I wanted to give it a chance to redeem itself, and it did, but not as much as I would have liked it to.
Also....why does every book this woman publishes have a romance with a cop??
Overall, I think people who liked The Haunting of Hill House or Haunting of Bly Manor will like this one, but it wasn't my favorite.
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Misogyny, Abandonment, Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
taelights'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The first half of the book started out so strong. The mystery of the lady killer case mixed in with the creepy paranormal elements had so much potential. But the mystery was solved at literally 50% which was way too easy. After I reached 63% I was like please just end the book because it was so boring after that point.
Honestly the book should have either been much shorter. Most of the second half was just boring and felt repetitive as if the author was trying to reach some type of word count/story length goal rather than actually tell the story.
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Murder