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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Note to self: never buy the series before you read the first book
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am definitely the minority on not enjoying this book but I just absolutely do not understand the hype. I kept waiting for the mic drop moment which did not come.
I didn't like Beth's narrative. She was unreliable and I didn't trust a word she said, but because she was shallow and selfish I didn't like her enough to feel any tension from her.
More concerned with how a group of mums from the school saw her than defending her own husband. The ending provides evidence for her actions but it didn't make the rest of the book feel natural. By her inaction alone it gave up the general flavour of the 'twist'.
If Beth had been more gung-ho about defending her husband then I'd have fallen into the trap but the minute he was arrested she was like, oh well better move on! And it was such an obvious indicator of things to come.
I also found it anticlimactic that it was revealed that Katie wasn't the only victim. The book was called 'The Serial Killer's Wife' I would have been more shocked if he hadn't been a serial killer.
Likewise, too much was being made of the Camilla plot (the constant repetition of Beth and Camilla sharing recipes) for the outcome to surprise me.
There also seemed to be no plot. The opening chapter grabbed me immediately but once Tom was arrested the whole book was just Beth going from place to place worrying about her image and baking. It just wasn't tense or interesting. When elements such as the gallows were introduced to add a new dimension of whodunit (lets be honest, Adam, Lucy and Julia were suspicious characters) it just petered out and nothing came of any of it.
I also didn't like the dialogue, it felt wooden and unnatural at times.
Definitely didn't work for me, but I'm clearly the outlier ratings wise.
I didn't like Beth's narrative. She was unreliable and I didn't trust a word she said, but because she was shallow and selfish I didn't like her enough to feel any tension from her.
More concerned with how a group of mums from the school saw her than defending her own husband. The ending provides evidence for her actions but it didn't make the rest of the book feel natural. By her inaction alone it gave up the general flavour of the 'twist'.
If Beth had been more gung-ho about defending her husband then I'd have fallen into the trap but the minute he was arrested she was like, oh well better move on! And it was such an obvious indicator of things to come.
I also found it anticlimactic that it was revealed that Katie wasn't the only victim. The book was called 'The Serial Killer's Wife' I would have been more shocked if he hadn't been a serial killer.
Likewise, too much was being made of the Camilla plot (the constant repetition of Beth and Camilla sharing recipes) for the outcome to surprise me.
There also seemed to be no plot. The opening chapter grabbed me immediately but once Tom was arrested the whole book was just Beth going from place to place worrying about her image and baking. It just wasn't tense or interesting. When elements such as the gallows were introduced to add a new dimension of whodunit (lets be honest, Adam, Lucy and Julia were suspicious characters) it just petered out and nothing came of any of it.
I also didn't like the dialogue, it felt wooden and unnatural at times.
Definitely didn't work for me, but I'm clearly the outlier ratings wise.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Well written, and it’s great you’re straight into the story. But a bit predictable and slow moving, I was hoping for far more murders and a bit more drama
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
3.5 stars
Beth and Tom Hardcastle seem to have the perfect life. When the police knock on the door one evening to question Tom about the disappearance of a woman, everything changes. Beth begins to fear the worst and finds herself questioning everything. Everyone is saying he’s a monster, and they’re saying she knew...
This one immediately called to me - a serial killer thriller through the eyes of a spouse is such an interesting, unique concept. The story starts off fast-paced, picking up right when the police show up to question Tom. The pacing in the middle of the story was a little slow for my taste, but at no point did I ever consider not reading on. The writing is captivating, and the twist ending left me shocked!
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Alice Hunter for my copy in exchange for my review... this one is available in the UK today (5/27/21) and available in the US August 3rd!
Beth and Tom Hardcastle seem to have the perfect life. When the police knock on the door one evening to question Tom about the disappearance of a woman, everything changes. Beth begins to fear the worst and finds herself questioning everything. Everyone is saying he’s a monster, and they’re saying she knew...
This one immediately called to me - a serial killer thriller through the eyes of a spouse is such an interesting, unique concept. The story starts off fast-paced, picking up right when the police show up to question Tom. The pacing in the middle of the story was a little slow for my taste, but at no point did I ever consider not reading on. The writing is captivating, and the twist ending left me shocked!
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Alice Hunter for my copy in exchange for my review... this one is available in the UK today (5/27/21) and available in the US August 3rd!