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amberjackonski's review against another edition
- 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
1.5
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
morag's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The writing style is blandly commercial - all function and no form. This made it easy and quick to read, but it also didn't leave an impression. Each character was distinct, but they also felt very simple. They all had one major hobby or personality trait, which was flipped on it's head by the end, but that was about it. Better than nothing, but not great, either.
The mystery was pretty engaging, but there's a twist at the end that made me absolutely despise one of the characters. It completely recast them as completely, utterly selfish, and all the while they try to justify it to the other characters in a slurry of whiny self-victimization. Not only that, but they do NOT get what they deserve, in my opinion. It ruined the book for me.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Murder
elsebeok's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
wackly93's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
ashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Alcohol, Murder, Death, Child death, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Abandonment, Cancer, and Gun violence
juliannar's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
Minor: Dementia
What a solid thriller! This was a quick read for me, as I read in a few hours during the afternoon, and I just couldn't put it down. Collins writes so clearly that I couldn't help but feel I was walking behind Dahlia for the extent of the novel. The premise is grim. Dahlia and her family live in a mansion that the locals call Murder Mansion due to the family's obsession with murder. The island was the center of the Blackburn murders completed by a serial killer over a period of many years. Her twin brother Andy disappeared on their 16th birthday and was never found. Until the siblings return to bury their father and find Andy in their father's grave- murdered. Dahlia learns that her family has not always been transparent, and even she closed them off throughout much of her life. There are several side characters who are extremely well-developed and add a lot to the story as well. There are several twists and turns, including two major ones at the end that I could never have seen coming. Content warnings: murder, child abuse (psychological), violence against women, death of a child Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.