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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
A pleasant surprise. So fast-paced and clever, but seriously depressing.
Loved the multiple perspectives and constant new discoveries of pieces that tie the mystery together. Well written.
First of all, I must start with the fact that this book had one of the most intriguing synopses I’ve ever read. I was hooked just from that – and it’s been enough to do everything I could to get my hands on a copy of this book (and I still only ended up with a digital one!).
Even still, the synopsis did not disappoint. This book was as captivating as I had hoped it would be and I ended up finishing it in two days (seriously, why do I have to keep going to work??). I cannot wait for more books from Alex Finlay. I loved this one and I cannot stop thinking about it. This will require a re-read from me in the near future.
Even still, the synopsis did not disappoint. This book was as captivating as I had hoped it would be and I ended up finishing it in two days (seriously, why do I have to keep going to work??). I cannot wait for more books from Alex Finlay. I loved this one and I cannot stop thinking about it. This will require a re-read from me in the near future.
Does not live up to the hype. This feels like it was a screenplay for a primetime soap that was somehow adapted into a book.
This was an okay book but I don't understand the high ratings and the hype. It was a bunch of cliches that was trying to be original but ultimately seemed like something I'd read a dozen times.
It started out okay but then the first twist made me groan out loud and I just rolled my eyes through the rest of it. I do admit, I had fun making fun of this book. I know I'm being harsh but I expected a lot from this one. I am waiting to find out more about the author though and will be reading more of his works to see how he improves.
Back to this book, the men seem far more real than the women, who're written they're like vague tv tropes: caring mother, badass agent, sweet teenager etc. The mystery clears up about halfway through the book. But with mysteries, figuring it out is cool. There's always fun in finding out if you're right.
My main problem was the writing and the use of established tropes. When things are getting exciting, the author uses dated dialogue and predictable soap opera like situations.
This was an okay book but I don't understand the high ratings and the hype. It was a bunch of cliches that was trying to be original but ultimately seemed like something I'd read a dozen times.
It started out okay but then the first twist made me groan out loud and I just rolled my eyes through the rest of it. I do admit, I had fun making fun of this book. I know I'm being harsh but I expected a lot from this one. I am waiting to find out more about the author though and will be reading more of his works to see how he improves.
Back to this book, the men seem far more real than the women, who're written they're like vague tv tropes: caring mother, badass agent, sweet teenager etc. The mystery clears up about halfway through the book. But with mysteries, figuring it out is cool. There's always fun in finding out if you're right.
My main problem was the writing and the use of established tropes. When things are getting exciting, the author uses dated dialogue and predictable soap opera like situations.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
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
I wish Goodreads let me give half-stars, because this one needs that 3.5. An expected reveal (but couched really nicely), little bit of a villain speech, protagonist was a bit lame. That said, Agent Keller is a highlight. Keller and Bob forever.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
great thriller. nothing too special but i definitely recommend
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This is the type of book that should be done in one sitting, because once I took a break, I didn't really want to come back. I ended up finishing it because it was a quick read, but I wasn't actually that interested in what happened.
One of the biggest issues I had with this book was the characters. The blurb posits Matt as the main character, but that never really felt true. There didn't seem to be a main characters -- and not in a fun ensemble cast way, but more like we were adrift in the story. None of the characters felt fully formed, and I couldn't really bring myself to care about them that much. Agent Keller, who seems to be featured in his next book, would have made a great main character. Unfortunately, I never really understood her vibe. I truly could not describe her personality to you, she was just kind of there to go through the motions. The attempts to make her have more character were small and didn't add up to a cohesive person.
Not only were the characters all rather lame, there were WAY to many of them. It was hard to tell who was important and who wasn't, and I found myself forgetting names quite a lot. (Reading through my notes reveals even more characters than I thought!). Maybe if they were interesting I would have a better time recalling them, but they all just floated right out of my brain whenever they weren't around. The worst was Matt's friend group, which seemed to exist to fulfill a diversity quota, and didn't add anything to the plot.
The plot itself was rather lackluster to me. The author relied on mini cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you reading, which felt clever at first, but then just became a bit tiresome/irritating. The mystery was decent, but I didn't really care about it. I enjoy in mysteries when the characters try to guess what happens, find out they were wrong, and then use that information to keep figuring things out. There was none of that here; what was intended to be twists and turns was just information piling up, so there was no fun to it. The ending made sense and wrapped everything up, but I didn't care enough for it to be impactful.
The author also would over explain subtle gestures quite a lot -- trust your reader to pick up on what you've planted! We're not dumb!
To sum up: average writing, flat characters, and and uninteresting mystery. Don't think I'll be returning to this author anytime soon.
One of the biggest issues I had with this book was the characters. The blurb posits Matt as the main character, but that never really felt true. There didn't seem to be a main characters -- and not in a fun ensemble cast way, but more like we were adrift in the story. None of the characters felt fully formed, and I couldn't really bring myself to care about them that much. Agent Keller, who seems to be featured in his next book, would have made a great main character. Unfortunately, I never really understood her vibe. I truly could not describe her personality to you, she was just kind of there to go through the motions. The attempts to make her have more character were small and didn't add up to a cohesive person.
Not only were the characters all rather lame, there were WAY to many of them. It was hard to tell who was important and who wasn't, and I found myself forgetting names quite a lot. (Reading through my notes reveals even more characters than I thought!). Maybe if they were interesting I would have a better time recalling them, but they all just floated right out of my brain whenever they weren't around. The worst was Matt's friend group, which seemed to exist to fulfill a diversity quota, and didn't add anything to the plot.
The plot itself was rather lackluster to me. The author relied on mini cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you reading, which felt clever at first, but then just became a bit tiresome/irritating. The mystery was decent, but I didn't really care about it. I enjoy in mysteries when the characters try to guess what happens, find out they were wrong, and then use that information to keep figuring things out. There was none of that here; what was intended to be twists and turns was just information piling up, so there was no fun to it. The ending made sense and wrapped everything up, but I didn't care enough for it to be impactful.
The author also would over explain subtle gestures quite a lot -- trust your reader to pick up on what you've planted! We're not dumb!
To sum up: average writing, flat characters, and and uninteresting mystery. Don't think I'll be returning to this author anytime soon.
The Pine family. They are fighting for their oldest son. He was convicted of murdering his high school girlfriend. But then there is a docudrama done about the crime and it looks like he might not have done it.
But then that poor family really gets slammed. They must be the bad luck clan for sure. I will admit...I almost dnf'ed this sucker because most of it is way over the top. Then I took it camping with us this week and guess what?!
There is a lot of characters back story and I really was not holding out much hope for it..then I got attached to the family.
It ended up being a lovely little time by the lake while the dogs barked at people that dared come near our campsite.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
But then that poor family really gets slammed. They must be the bad luck clan for sure. I will admit...I almost dnf'ed this sucker because most of it is way over the top. Then I took it camping with us this week and guess what?!
There is a lot of characters back story and I really was not holding out much hope for it..then I got attached to the family.
It ended up being a lovely little time by the lake while the dogs barked at people that dared come near our campsite.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes