Reviews

This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples

erintempleton's review against another edition

4.0

its giving Flannery O'Connor meets small-reservation-town-in-Minnesota including: threatening religious vibes, surly characters that you actually care about, Family Trauma, crazy shit happening out of nowhere, death and death-curses as a motif, racists, alcoholism, and an ending that makes you wonder if you understood what you just read. definitely would recommend if you're not squeamish or sensitive!

i will say that the description makes it seem like Marion and Shannon are gonna be the only POVs, but the narration is only about 50% about them. the other half is 3rd person from various townspeople related to the murder plotline, so just be prepared for that in advance. also, if you read the description and were hoping for a *romance* you will be sorely disappointed; it's a complicated relationship involving sex and feelings but not in the way the description wants you to think. still worth reading! but manage your expectations about it.

mesy_mark's review against another edition

3.0

Marion has a secret lover as a gay man on a small reservation. One day he wakes a ghost of a dog in a park that leads him to Kayden Kelliher, a murdered boy who the town sleeply remembers. This was a magical realism book and was a nice listen to. Nothing to in-depth a light read with a gay man character.

moxiemin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

2.5

There are so many stories within this story.   I found it really hard to follow.

dulcey's review against another edition

3.0

3+

laurareadsthrillers's review against another edition

#dnf at 20%

luckyniko's review against another edition

4.0

own voices. it gives me the same vibes as [b:Dig.|40714769|Dig.|A.S. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531335140l/40714769._SY75_.jpg|63327892] with the generational/multiple narrators and how everything is very much connected but not at all.

i want a dog.

embark19's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

mckenzie_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

lecoursen's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

cmstein's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0