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beckyyreadss's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I love Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, at first, I thought this was another edition of that series and then realized it was a standalone. However, I fully enjoyed this book.
This book has several points of view. In one dark evening in New York City, two strangers meet by chance. Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realise they have so much in common. They both feel alone. They both drink alone. And they both desperately want revenge against the two men who destroyed their families. Together, they have the perfect plan. If you kill for me, I'll kill for you.
I feel like I could ruin this book just by trying to describe it and that annoys me, but I also love it. I feel like this review is going to be vague due to the fact that I don’t want to spoil anything about this novel. All I would say is if you judge it quickly, you will be shocked. The twists and turns in this book just completely shock you. Steve Cavanagh knows how to hook you in from the first sentence and just from the first chapter. There is multiple POVs from the main three characters and the law enforcement officer which keeps it every interesting. I didn’t trust anyone during this book at all, even when it got to the end, I still don’t trust the main characters. Steve Cavanagh always does short chapters which I don’t usually love, however in this book it worked and if it had longer chapters I think I would have struggled with it.
The one thing I missed from this book that are in the Eddie Flynn books is the courtroom tension and the drama that comes with the lawyers. Overall, this book is action-packed and thrilling. Just a warning it talks a lot about murders and death and is quite graphic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, and Child death
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, and Grief
novellearts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Death, Pedophilia, Murder, Child death, and Mental illness
straw_hat_kd'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
5.0
This was a great read. Two women with tragic pasts meet and eventually agree to kill the men responsible for tragic events in their lives in a little qui pro quo. Things take a turn and when it does this already tense book ramps up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder, and Suicide
becca1997's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
theinstabookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love me a good serial killer thriller! This was unique and twisty. There were a lot of characters and I didn't want to put the book down until I figured out how they were all connected. I did figure out one of the twists, but that didn't take away from my reading experience at all. There were a few pulse-pounding chapters that had me on the edge of my seat, but I also felt for the MC and her grief. So glad I picked this as one of my BOTM picks this month! Do be mindful of trigger warnings though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Self harm, Pedophilia, Rape, Infertility, and Cancer
hey_abijo's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Women reeling from severe loss and trauma take us along for the ride on their hunt for vengeance. The story is based on this premise: two women, connected only by their shared suffering and constant grief, agree to swap murders— but their plans go haywire. Multiple engaging POVs, some clichès and predictability, moderate suspense, and many plot twists. Author Steve Cavanagh knows how to write suspense and mystery, but his skills are less aptly applied in matters of artful detail, emotion, sensitivity, and tact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Child abuse, Death, Child death, Cursing, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Gun violence
Minor: Blood and Alcohol
honey_coated_chapters's review
5.0
°:. *₊ ° . ° .•
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4/5
𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 352
𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: mystery/crime
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆: revenge plots served extra hot and loose ends.
———————————————————————
This hooked me in from the first chapter. There’s alternating POVs per chapter (3-4 POVs in total) and each one ended on a cliffhanger that just had me at the edge of my seat. The twists and connections are honestly riveting, this author may be up there with Alice Feeney for best twists. But, I also didn’t totally mind it because the story was still put together neatly. The “swapping murders” premise was such a thrilling concept, I know it’s not entirely original but the execution was near perfect. The way our characters describe their thought process along with their motives, it honestly hard to put down. I liked the detail that went in to each of their chapters, it’s not totally gory but there is descriptions of crime scenes that provide just enough information to give you some chills but not too much to where you’re turned off entirely. There’s a crime aspect that I appreciated while we were able to see how another character (detective) makes his connections. I will say that I had to suspend my belief just a little bit — some parts are over the top, I didn’t mind but it’s worth mentioning if you like your thrillers true to life. Aside from that, 4 stars is just for my own selfishness because we don’t get answers! We don’t know why certain ~things~ happened.
🧸
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4/5
𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 352
𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: mystery/crime
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆: revenge plots served extra hot and loose ends.
———————————————————————
This hooked me in from the first chapter. There’s alternating POVs per chapter (3-4 POVs in total) and each one ended on a cliffhanger that just had me at the edge of my seat. The twists and connections are honestly riveting, this author may be up there with Alice Feeney for best twists. But, I also didn’t totally mind it because the story was still put together neatly. The “swapping murders” premise was such a thrilling concept, I know it’s not entirely original but the execution was near perfect. The way our characters describe their thought process along with their motives, it honestly hard to put down. I liked the detail that went in to each of their chapters, it’s not totally gory but there is descriptions of crime scenes that provide just enough information to give you some chills but not too much to where you’re turned off entirely. There’s a crime aspect that I appreciated while we were able to see how another character (detective) makes his connections. I will say that I had to suspend my belief just a little bit — some parts are over the top, I didn’t mind but it’s worth mentioning if you like your thrillers true to life. Aside from that, 4 stars is just for my own selfishness because we don’t get answers! We don’t know why certain ~things~ happened.
🧸
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide, Child abuse, Child death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
reading_under_covers's review against another edition
4.5
It’s been a minute since I binged a book and this one did it for me!
The alternating POVs and short chapters made this one so hard to put down. I loved seeing everything come together and definitely understand the hype behind this one!
I’m also just always intrigued when stories go the Strangers on a Train route and thought it was utilized really well here!
**Just a note that this book does deal with very heavy topics**
The alternating POVs and short chapters made this one so hard to put down. I loved seeing everything come together and definitely understand the hype behind this one!
I’m also just always intrigued when stories go the Strangers on a Train route and thought it was utilized really well here!
**Just a note that this book does deal with very heavy topics**
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Murder
shellysbookcorner's review
dark
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you Atria Books for my review copy.
This was my first time reading this author and it was a good read! The book started out with a bang and didn't let up. Now I did call one twist, but there was another one that left me stunned. Well played, Steve Cavanagh. Now as far as the ending goes I'm not 100% sure how I feel because I felt one character got off way too easy and the one good deed doesn't eliminate all of the other terrible things they did throughout the story.
This was my first time reading this author and it was a good read! The book started out with a bang and didn't let up. Now I did call one twist, but there was another one that left me stunned. Well played, Steve Cavanagh. Now as far as the ending goes I'm not 100% sure how I feel because I felt one character got off way too easy and the one good deed doesn't eliminate all of the other terrible things they did throughout the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Child death, and Death of parent
ashliej's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief and Kidnapping
Minor: Infertility, Rape, and Pedophilia