Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

84 reviews

ckraney's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 stars. I loved the format of this book—the book within a book. I thought the crimes and clues were well plotted and I was prepared for a masterful reveal. I was disappointed by the twist at the end and it felt like it cheapened all of the previous work. Such crimes seemed more intricate than how they were tied up in the end. (It’s hard to explain without spoilers!) I wish the ending had been as well thought out and crafted as the rest of the story. It would have been a 4 star book in that case.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Stalking, and Murder

linneak's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

notartgarfunkel's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racism

breacommelafromage's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed this so much more than I expected. I read so many psychological thrillers that I can normally sus out the ending at about the 60% mark, but truly it wasn’t until the final puzzle piece was laid on the table that everything came together, and DAMN is it fun to be held in suspense like that. Although I will say I called the tiny subplot almost immediately but that was pretty obvious and didn’t remove any of the fun from the story within the story which is the real story (I promise that makes sense if you read this). 

I’m not sure if I actually *liked* the way it ended but I was very entertained by it. All in all, a fun read and one I highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

tealeaf5's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

Quick, engaging read but I wanted more from the ending

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence

laura_keoski's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

This was one of the more creative murder mysteries I've read this year! I thought the plot-within-a-plot device was used in a really clever way, and allowed space to explore some interesting topics about the genre itself. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Discussed in the book: COVID-19 pandemic, characters experiencing homelessness, prison incarceration

This book contains depictions of a serial killer, including some graphic descriptions of violence and murders

bekah1210's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

purplepenning's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

aseel_reads's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

this had the potential, if they made it author living her life/writing her novel, the novel itself, and then leo advising her about the novel in real life but instead we just get the novel itself (which was odd, hated the characters, the ending was weird, don't understand it) and leo advising on it and apparently the blurb just tells us what is going to happen??? no good 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I actually really liked the meta ness of this! Relived the mystery of it also! Only thing was the ending was somewhat underwhelming but it was a fun and fast read!

the twist with Leo tho??? The emails???? My god that was well executed

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism and Racism