Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

82 reviews

espressoreader's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

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

1.0

This is what happens when an author has a bunch of ideas on sticky notes and then decides to chose which one to use by playing pin the tail on the donkey.  Unfortunately, the reader is the donkey in this scenario.  The plot of this book was about 3 different mismatched and then mangled story arcs that were never spliced.  

The alcoholism of the main character took too much time.  Does it happen?  Absolutely, but functional alcoholics are functional not constantly at the booze at the cost of other things, and dysfunctional alcoholics don’t make good narrators.  Too much of the main character’s personality was obfuscated by the addiction.  I am aware that it happens in life, but that does not render it a good person to select to guide the whole book.

Fail.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Stalking, Grief, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

sporadicallybookish's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Death

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Domestic abuse

skunze's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Murder

throwback682's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Suicide

kristinebennett's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Grief

Minor: Suicide

annabulkowski's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Drug use, Alcohol, Cursing, and Addiction

karly_ackley's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Addiction, Death, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Child death, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Mental illness, Self harm, and Alcohol

tairameadowcroft's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement and Murder

hannanni41's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

The biggest twist is barely even forecasted, so it makes very little sense. The POV character sucks and I think the author seriously misunderstood how to write a good unreliable narrator. However, it was still a pretty decent read that I didn't have to think too hard about. Just go with the flow on this one and read if you're in the mood for an entertaining popcorn thriller

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Confinement

ishtar_n's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A fun read and palate cleanser between denser reads. Dramatic rich people doing dramatic rich people things.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Mental illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder