Scan barcode
rfwads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
3.0
There's nothing quite like sweet revenge and karma.
What I liked about Guilty:
Although Guilty wasn't action-heavy, it did succeed as an engaging psychological thriller. The book was both complex and intriguing. The search for Constance was gripping and interesting which led to a startling and unexpected finale in part one. Equally chilling is Amanda’s measured, cold-blooded dismantling of Karl's life. It depicted the unsettling reality of how the media often remains indifferent to the chaos caused by sensational stories, regardless of the truth behind them. We have all seen how powerful the media can be and the damage they cause to people's lives just to make headlines.
What I disliked about Guilty:
Occasionally, the book's pace was slow which would lead me to skim through certain paragraphs or pages. However, the book retained enough of my interest to carry me through those slower sections.
What I think would have made Guilty better:
Though occasionally slow, the book remained captivating throughout. If there is anything that I would change, it would be to increase the suspense in the first two parts to match the gripping intensity of the later parts.
Would I recommend Guilty by Laura Elliot:
Although I wasn't fond of Laura Elliot's past works, I found Guilty to be enjoyable and would recommend it to others.
****
Split into four parts, Guilty opens with the disappearance of thirteen-year-old Constance Lawson. Amidst the investigation, the media aggressively points fingers at Constance's uncle, Karl Lawson. Fast forward six years, Karl's life is in ruins while journalist Amanda Bowe, who accused him, flourishes. However, a sudden call thrusts Amanda into a catastrophic scenario reminiscent of every mother's worst fears.
What I liked about Guilty:
Although Guilty wasn't action-heavy, it did succeed as an engaging psychological thriller. The book was both complex and intriguing. The search for Constance was gripping and interesting which led to a startling and unexpected finale in part one. Equally chilling is Amanda’s measured, cold-blooded dismantling of Karl's life. It depicted the unsettling reality of how the media often remains indifferent to the chaos caused by sensational stories, regardless of the truth behind them. We have all seen how powerful the media can be and the damage they cause to people's lives just to make headlines.
What I disliked about Guilty:
Occasionally, the book's pace was slow which would lead me to skim through certain paragraphs or pages. However, the book retained enough of my interest to carry me through those slower sections.
What I think would have made Guilty better:
Though occasionally slow, the book remained captivating throughout. If there is anything that I would change, it would be to increase the suspense in the first two parts to match the gripping intensity of the later parts.
Would I recommend Guilty by Laura Elliot:
Although I wasn't fond of Laura Elliot's past works, I found Guilty to be enjoyable and would recommend it to others.
****
Split into four parts, Guilty opens with the disappearance of thirteen-year-old Constance Lawson. Amidst the investigation, the media aggressively points fingers at Constance's uncle, Karl Lawson. Fast forward six years, Karl's life is in ruins while journalist Amanda Bowe, who accused him, flourishes. However, a sudden call thrusts Amanda into a catastrophic scenario reminiscent of every mother's worst fears.
stina_33's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really interesting. Tons of twist and turns and clues that made you think. The only thing I didn't like was how they sped up Lar and Amanda forming a relationship. Everything else was well paced and made for an interesting read. I would recommend this book and will read it again.
k_west1984's review against another edition
1.0
I read 50% of this book and flicked through the over 50. Wasnt for me 1 bit started off ok then dragged on. Didn't like any of the characters either
thegeekybibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
When Constance Lawson goes missing, all efforts are initially focused on finding the thirteen-year-old and reuniting her with her grieving family. All that changes when ambitious journalist Amanda Bowe zeroes in on Constance's uncle, Karl Lawson, twisting his close relationship with Constance into something sordid, implying that he is responsible for her disappearance, destroying Karl's life in the process. It only took seven days.
Six years later, Amanda has everything she ever wanted. She's married, has a young son, and is the host of a hit talk show. All it takes is a single phone call to shatter the illusions of her perfect life, plunging her into a nightmare that feels all to familiar...
Guilty is a complex story that slowly builds. I often found myself feeling frustrated by the slow pace and seemingly mundane details. (Many of these details proved to matter later on, but not all of them.) My first thought, upon finishing the book, was that it felt like I'd read two books instead of one.
Even though I enjoyed the overall story, I can't shake a mild feeling of dissatisfaction. The story is broken up into four parts, and while important things are revealed in all them, parts two and three felt tedious to read. The pace was too slow for my liking, and I didn't understand the point of most of those details until I reached part four.
All of this left me feeling terribly conflicted. Despite being dissatisfied with things, Guilty still manages to tell a great story, and Elliot's writing is very good. The snail-like pace of large portions of the story bogs it down, dimming what would otherwise shine.
That said, the vast majority of Goodreads reviewers gave this book four and five stars. So I'm inclined to think it's a case of Guilty not being a good fit for me, than anything else.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.
Six years later, Amanda has everything she ever wanted. She's married, has a young son, and is the host of a hit talk show. All it takes is a single phone call to shatter the illusions of her perfect life, plunging her into a nightmare that feels all to familiar...
Guilty is a complex story that slowly builds. I often found myself feeling frustrated by the slow pace and seemingly mundane details. (Many of these details proved to matter later on, but not all of them.) My first thought, upon finishing the book, was that it felt like I'd read two books instead of one.
Even though I enjoyed the overall story, I can't shake a mild feeling of dissatisfaction. The story is broken up into four parts, and while important things are revealed in all them, parts two and three felt tedious to read. The pace was too slow for my liking, and I didn't understand the point of most of those details until I reached part four.
All of this left me feeling terribly conflicted. Despite being dissatisfied with things, Guilty still manages to tell a great story, and Elliot's writing is very good. The snail-like pace of large portions of the story bogs it down, dimming what would otherwise shine.
That said, the vast majority of Goodreads reviewers gave this book four and five stars. So I'm inclined to think it's a case of Guilty not being a good fit for me, than anything else.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.
kkward1697's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Would love to give this 5 stars based on the overall premise and satisfying conclusion. I was, however, disappointed by how much it dragged on. There were far too many characters introduced for the type of story this was. These characters would be barely explained and then thrown back in later chapters, just assuming the reader would remember who they were. This was very frustrating to get through and could have been a fast, exciting read without all of that.
myrdyr's review against another edition
4.0
I found the sensationalism of "fake news" and it’s aftermath as a plot device to be timely and original. As someone who has suffered at the hands of a deceitful narcissist who is never held to account for their actions, the revenge aspect of the book appealed to me. I will definitely look for other books by Elliot.
megs_books_'s review against another edition
3.0
Not enough background (for me) in the beginning. I see what the book wanted to be. However, to its credit, it's not a terrible read. It's just not one I would say it was a classic.....😑ugh is all i can say
noveldeelights's review against another edition
4.0
Goodness gracious me, this is one dark read!
I requested this book on Netgalley because of the cover. It was the pretty pink balloon that did it. Never mind reading the description so I didn’t actually know what this book was about. Except someone made a terrible mistake that could ruin their family. Thank you tagline. And so I was pleasantly surprised.
When thirteen year old Constance goes missing, reporter Amanda Bowe zeroes in on Constance’s uncle Karl and absolutely vilifies him in her articles. Six years later, Karl’s life is in ruins. He’s lost his job, his house, his wife and child. As the saying goes, mud sticks. Meanwhile Amanda is thriving. She has a successful career, a husband and a son.
This is a story about revenge but also about how powerless you are when nobody believes you, even when you know it’s the truth. In this day and age of “fake news”, this story is incredibly apt. “Guilty” highlights the power of the media and how quickly and easily they can distort facts and turn them into something they’re not. Yes, they do good but they’re also capable of utter destruction.
You can’t help but feel for Karl. Watching him go from being a valued member in a close-knit family to being completely alone, was heartbreaking to read. Despite his actions, I sympathised with him all the way. A sentiment I couldn’t quite extend to Amanda. I kind of wanted to hurt her. Badly.
“Guilty” is one gripping psychological thriller with a well constructed plot and realistic and believable characters. I felt it was quite slow but I was still mesmerised. The addition of newspaper articles was genius as it truly showed the difference between what actually happened and what the reporter wrote. It really added an extra layer and proves you shouldn’t always believe what you read.
Incredibly thought-provoking, it’ll make you question everything.
Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy!
I requested this book on Netgalley because of the cover. It was the pretty pink balloon that did it. Never mind reading the description so I didn’t actually know what this book was about. Except someone made a terrible mistake that could ruin their family. Thank you tagline. And so I was pleasantly surprised.
When thirteen year old Constance goes missing, reporter Amanda Bowe zeroes in on Constance’s uncle Karl and absolutely vilifies him in her articles. Six years later, Karl’s life is in ruins. He’s lost his job, his house, his wife and child. As the saying goes, mud sticks. Meanwhile Amanda is thriving. She has a successful career, a husband and a son.
This is a story about revenge but also about how powerless you are when nobody believes you, even when you know it’s the truth. In this day and age of “fake news”, this story is incredibly apt. “Guilty” highlights the power of the media and how quickly and easily they can distort facts and turn them into something they’re not. Yes, they do good but they’re also capable of utter destruction.
You can’t help but feel for Karl. Watching him go from being a valued member in a close-knit family to being completely alone, was heartbreaking to read. Despite his actions, I sympathised with him all the way. A sentiment I couldn’t quite extend to Amanda. I kind of wanted to hurt her. Badly.
“Guilty” is one gripping psychological thriller with a well constructed plot and realistic and believable characters. I felt it was quite slow but I was still mesmerised. The addition of newspaper articles was genius as it truly showed the difference between what actually happened and what the reporter wrote. It really added an extra layer and proves you shouldn’t always believe what you read.
Incredibly thought-provoking, it’ll make you question everything.
Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy!
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
Wow.. that was a rollercoaster! So many despicable characters! Great book