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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first half of the book felt long (the total book is almost 500 pages which seems a bit unnecessary). It picked up a lot in the latter half which made it more engaging to read. But since the pieces of the answers were all revealed in the latter 70%, the first parts felt like filler.
I do like the multiple perspectives and short chapters. Thought it was nice that the story kept peeling like layers of an onion. The characters were also decent and the writing was digestible (save for some parts in the beginning). It may have not been perfect but is was an enjoyable read!
I do like the multiple perspectives and short chapters. Thought it was nice that the story kept peeling like layers of an onion. The characters were also decent and the writing was digestible (save for some parts in the beginning). It may have not been perfect but is was an enjoyable read!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't really know how I feel about this one. It was readable? I didn't DNF it, so that's something.
I actually like mystery-thrillers as a genre because I enjoy the suspense and putting the pieces of the mystery together, but I feel like they are often quite cynical in their portrayal of characters and the world in general, so I avoid them for that reason. Much of this book is just about how awful and powerful rich people (mostly men) are. I am well aware that the world is full of corruption and greed at large and small scale. I just want to read a summer camp murder mystery to get a little creepy thrill and maybe feel clever for figuring out the crime before the reveal. I did figure one of the cases out pretty early, but it was more depressing than satisfying. The actual ending to everything is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Some character perspectives were harder to read than others. Alice and Louise make some awful decisions, Alice out of dull acquiescence and Louise it seems because the plot demands it. Tracy's chapters are like a painful concentration of the worst parts of being a 13 year old girl. Even for chapters from characters that are a little more reasonable, like Judyta, everything around them still has to be seeped in misogyny, bigotry, and classism.
Saskia Maarleveld is always a great audiobook narrator. It would have been cool though to have different narrators for all the perspectives.
I actually like mystery-thrillers as a genre because I enjoy the suspense and putting the pieces of the mystery together, but I feel like they are often quite cynical in their portrayal of characters and the world in general, so I avoid them for that reason. Much of this book is just about how awful and powerful rich people (mostly men) are. I am well aware that the world is full of corruption and greed at large and small scale. I just want to read a summer camp murder mystery to get a little creepy thrill and maybe feel clever for figuring out the crime before the reveal. I did figure one of the cases out pretty early, but it was more depressing than satisfying. The actual ending to everything is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Some character perspectives were harder to read than others. Alice and Louise make some awful decisions, Alice out of dull acquiescence and Louise it seems because the plot demands it. Tracy's chapters are like a painful concentration of the worst parts of being a 13 year old girl. Even for chapters from characters that are a little more reasonable, like Judyta, everything around them still has to be seeped in misogyny, bigotry, and classism.
Saskia Maarleveld is always a great audiobook narrator. It would have been cool though to have different narrators for all the perspectives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up this book after seeing so many glowing reviews and its high rating on Goodreads, but it did not live up to the hype. While the writing style and atmosphere were engaging at first, the story quickly became overwhelming. There were too many characters to keep track of, which made following the narrative confusing. The frequent shifts in perspective only added to the chaos and felt more like an attempt to stir up unnecessary drama rather than build a strong mystery.
As the plot unfolded, it started to lose direction. I kept waiting for a moment that would tie everything together or a twist that would justify the slow pacing, but the ending was underwhelming and predictable. What was marketed as a suspenseful mystery felt more like a long and meandering piece of historical fiction. It had a promising premise, but the execution fell short. Ultimately, it left me feeling disappointed and ready to move on to something more cohesive and impactful.
A. Twists and Suspense
⭐⭐: Minimal suspense, twists felt forced or clichéd.
B. Atmosphere and Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Immersive atmosphere, writing was polished and added tension.
C. Character Development
⭐⭐: Characters were underdeveloped, with unclear motivations.
D. Pacing and Engagement
⭐⭐⭐: Pacing was decent, with a few engaging moments.
E. Mystery Resolution
⭐⭐: The resolution felt rushed or unsatisfying.
F. Emotional Impact
⭐: No emotional connection; the story felt flat.
As the plot unfolded, it started to lose direction. I kept waiting for a moment that would tie everything together or a twist that would justify the slow pacing, but the ending was underwhelming and predictable. What was marketed as a suspenseful mystery felt more like a long and meandering piece of historical fiction. It had a promising premise, but the execution fell short. Ultimately, it left me feeling disappointed and ready to move on to something more cohesive and impactful.
A. Twists and Suspense
⭐⭐: Minimal suspense, twists felt forced or clichéd.
B. Atmosphere and Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Immersive atmosphere, writing was polished and added tension.
C. Character Development
⭐⭐: Characters were underdeveloped, with unclear motivations.
D. Pacing and Engagement
⭐⭐⭐: Pacing was decent, with a few engaging moments.
E. Mystery Resolution
⭐⭐: The resolution felt rushed or unsatisfying.
F. Emotional Impact
⭐: No emotional connection; the story felt flat.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had me SAT from the start. I would have read it in a day if I wasn’t being a baby about not wanting to hold an almost 500 page hardcover in bed