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esalmon13's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Death, Cancer, and Suicide
cc_shelflove's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Why aren’t there more people talking about this book?????? My heart. 💔😭😫 I don’t think I’ve ever felt so emotional after reading a crime novel!
From the very start, the reader is given so many reasons to believe the main character, Harri, is unreliable. She lost her job as a police officer for reasons unbeknownst to the reader, and she prattled on and on about how she fell head over heels in love with a man, Ben Elmys, after three dates. What?! As the story developed, though, it turned out Ben was just as crazy as Harri, if not crazier! Throughout the novel I asked myself multiple times, “What the fuck is happening?????” For me, I think that makes for a great book, and to find one where I haven’t guessed any of the twists and turns? Score! I couldn’t stop thinking about the story and I endlessly wanted to know what the fuck was going on. At its conclusion, all of my questions were answered and Harri and Ben’s story turned out to be so freakin’ good. I’m so happy I read this.
From the very start, the reader is given so many reasons to believe the main character, Harri, is unreliable. She lost her job as a police officer for reasons unbeknownst to the reader, and she prattled on and on about how she fell head over heels in love with a man, Ben Elmys, after three dates. What?! As the story developed, though, it turned out Ben was just as crazy as Harri, if not crazier! Throughout the novel I asked myself multiple times, “What the fuck is happening?????” For me, I think that makes for a great book, and to find one where I haven’t guessed any of the twists and turns? Score! I couldn’t stop thinking about the story and I endlessly wanted to know what the fuck was going on. At its conclusion, all of my questions were answered and Harri and Ben’s story turned out to be so freakin’ good. I’m so happy I read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Police brutality and Child death
lilifane's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Ah, I don't know how to talk about this book without spoiling anything. I guess it's best to get into it without knowing much. For example, I had no idea about the plot when I started reading.
So this is like a slow, weird mystery about a boy, the death of his parents, his legal guardian and a former police officer. And there are aspects of the plot that I absolutely adore. But because I love these so much, my brain is pretty much conditioned to recognize them early on. So most of the mystery wasn't really a mystery for me but a fact, and most reveals in the end were not surprising at all. However, it reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows and worked really well for me. Also, one scene made me super emotional, that's always a plus.
I also loved the setting and atmosphere. I enjoyed the moody British countryside very much.
Although I liked the writing, there were poems that were part of the story and I just... couldn't take those seriously. They seemed kind of pretentious.
Lastly, I didn't like the romance/love elements of the plot. These were very weird and cringy. I wish they weren't this essential to the plot because I would have completely loved the book without this element tbh.
So this is like a slow, weird mystery about a boy, the death of his parents, his legal guardian and a former police officer. And there are aspects of the plot that I absolutely adore. But because I love these so much, my brain is pretty much conditioned to recognize them early on. So most of the mystery wasn't really a mystery for me but a fact, and most reveals in the end were not surprising at all. However, it reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows and worked really well for me. Also, one scene made me super emotional, that's always a plus.
I also loved the setting and atmosphere. I enjoyed the moody British countryside very much.
Although I liked the writing, there were poems that were part of the story and I just... couldn't take those seriously. They seemed kind of pretentious.
Lastly, I didn't like the romance/love elements of the plot. These were very weird and cringy. I wish they weren't this essential to the plot because I would have completely loved the book without this element tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide
haylzno's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
WOW.
Do you ever read a book and then immediately go back to the beginning to see if you can't spot the clues?
Because I don't usually - but I did for this one.
I thought the clues where perfect and subtle and led me to exclaiming "OHHHHHHHH" multiple times throughout the book. This book gave me chills on multiple occasions
The books is labeled as thriller/crime/suspense but could easily be classified in another genre. I won't say because, as many other reviews note, it's best to go into this one with as little information as possible.
There were a few things I didn't like: I did find myself rolling my eyes at the "romance" that is revealed in the early chapters - and my only advice is to push through the instalovers because I think the ending and multiple plot twists make it worth the read.
I also found some of the writing excessively descriptive. There were multiple occasions where I decided to skim because it was getting boring and repetitive, but this is still a book I'd recommend to those who may enjoy unconventional thrillers.
Do you ever read a book and then immediately go back to the beginning to see if you can't spot the clues?
Because I don't usually - but I did for this one.
I thought the clues where perfect and subtle and led me to exclaiming "OHHHHHHHH" multiple times throughout the book. This book gave me chills on multiple occasions
The books is labeled as thriller/crime/suspense but could easily be classified in another genre. I won't say because, as many other reviews note, it's best to go into this one with as little information as possible.
There were a few things I didn't like: I did find myself rolling my eyes at the "romance" that is revealed in the early chapters - and my only advice is to push through the instalovers because I think the ending and multiple plot twists make it worth the read.
I also found some of the writing excessively descriptive. There were multiple occasions where I decided to skim because it was getting boring and repetitive, but this is still a book I'd recommend to those who may enjoy unconventional thrillers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
meganrae047's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
soobooksalot's review
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
What sacrifices would you make to save the life of a loved one?
The Other Side Of Night is some next-level writing from new-to-me author Adam Hamdy.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
This is a book for which I can't even try to spin a teaser summary. It's a mystery novel, but so much more. It's a story within a book, with court documents and letters throughout.
It's the story of David Asha and wife Beth, their son Elliot, friend Ben, and police officer Harriet Kealty.
The Other Side Of Night is emotional, otherworldly and non-linear. It contains elements of philosophy, poetry, physics and biology. Grief and loss and reflection, alongside crime investigation.
These elements may not sound like they can fit together, but author Hamdy has made it so. It's heart-wrenching and thought-provoking and the whole thing might have blown my mind a bit!
This is very much a different book, but for those willing to give different a chance, I highly recommend!
For release on Sept. 27.
The Other Side Of Night is some next-level writing from new-to-me author Adam Hamdy.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
This is a book for which I can't even try to spin a teaser summary. It's a mystery novel, but so much more. It's a story within a book, with court documents and letters throughout.
It's the story of David Asha and wife Beth, their son Elliot, friend Ben, and police officer Harriet Kealty.
The Other Side Of Night is emotional, otherworldly and non-linear. It contains elements of philosophy, poetry, physics and biology. Grief and loss and reflection, alongside crime investigation.
These elements may not sound like they can fit together, but author Hamdy has made it so. It's heart-wrenching and thought-provoking and the whole thing might have blown my mind a bit!
This is very much a different book, but for those willing to give different a chance, I highly recommend!
For release on Sept. 27.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
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