You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
News breaks that a junior minister in the British Parliament has engaged in a five-month affair with one of his employees. Ten days later, that same employee accuses the man of rape. As the case and trial unfold, the book jumps from the viewpoints of the minister, his wife, and the prosecuting barrister. It isn’t long before the pages show that there is a deeper connection between these three people, one that even they themselves might not be aware of.
I enjoyed reading this book and thought it was solidly written, keeping my focus engaged throughout. I did feel like it lacked a certain kind of spark; one that would have turned this from a 3 to a 4-5 star rating. I didn’t get sucked in to the point where I just HAD to find out what happened next.
I enjoyed reading this book and thought it was solidly written, keeping my focus engaged throughout. I did feel like it lacked a certain kind of spark; one that would have turned this from a 3 to a 4-5 star rating. I didn’t get sucked in to the point where I just HAD to find out what happened next.
Well written but 3 stars for me as frankly I found the storyline absolutely horrific. If someone had said to me it’s a work of non-fiction, I wouldn’t be surprised. Why did the author even change the names, when this could’ve been a story about our Conservative government, it runs too close to home. It’s gross and it’s triggering and not a nice book, I raced through it as I wanted it to end. I don’t recommend reading if you’re easily triggered.
(TW: contains sexual abuse, verbal abuse, drug use, death, trauma)
(TW: contains sexual abuse, verbal abuse, drug use, death, trauma)
Eh. There was a lot of promise in this one, and it definitely made me angry, so emotion was elicited. But the twist at the end, the thing we were waiting for? It wasn’t enough to live up to the buildup. I plan to write a real review on my blog next month, I’ll drop the link when it’s up.
Finished this today over two library loan periods. Very difficult material to get through, not enough revelation, and just a bit too long/without a major conclusion. None of the characters were likable.
Not my cuppa, at all. I thought it was just very slow, and plodding. The "twists", if there were any, were very obvious to me, which I think comes from so much reading. I'm good at detecting things.
Just not on my favorites list.
Just not on my favorites list.
mysterious
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:
Complicated
A true psychological thriller, nothing as sordid as murder included, naturally. For nothing so vulgar can touch the rich and privileged boys of Oxford University in the early nineties.
But rape? While possible, it’s more likely to be a miscommunication, a case of he said/she said, or maybe she really wanted it. Didn’t she?
I got sucked in you guys. I love when an author can make me feel things, and this was a masterful stroke of writing that kept me at arm’s length before pulling me into its secret passageways. Great use of multiple POV, keeping you guessing about who is most likely to be the unreliable one here. Making me treat the protagonist with disdain and then making me love her. Really engrossing and compelling!
But rape? While possible, it’s more likely to be a miscommunication, a case of he said/she said, or maybe she really wanted it. Didn’t she?
I got sucked in you guys. I love when an author can make me feel things, and this was a masterful stroke of writing that kept me at arm’s length before pulling me into its secret passageways. Great use of multiple POV, keeping you guessing about who is most likely to be the unreliable one here. Making me treat the protagonist with disdain and then making me love her. Really engrossing and compelling!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes