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melissatrew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Finally got around to reading this one that’s been in my TBR pile forever! The coastal setting and the creepy caves play a big role in the story about a closeknit town torn apart by grief and suspicion after a series of tragedies.
It’s a very slow burning mystery and it took a while for the plot to pick up and get interesting, but it got there eventually. All of the characters did start to bleed together in my mind, though, because none of them really had their own distinct personality. I did appreciate the big reveal at the end; I definitely wouldn’t have predicted the story to go in that direction and didn’t see it coming!
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death
popsicleplease's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Grief and Dementia
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Murder
alessaaa38's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Death and Dementia
Minor: Suicide
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
There are a lot of characters, and it took a while to get familiar with everyone. And the mystery doesn't quite grip you from the start. It's definitely a slow build that never really takes off but I was interested enough to want to know what happened.
I didn't figure out the mystery, but I was disappointed with the end. Let's just say it left much to be desired, and then just abruptly ended after the big reveal.
This was a nice "background" listen—no need to pay attention to every word but keeps you hooked enough to finish the book. The setting may have been the best part.
Thanks to Libro.fm, Macmillan Audio, and the author for my ALC!
Graphic: Death, Dementia, and Grief
Moderate: Child death and Suicide
zlad13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It had a bit more social commentary than I was expecting, but I thought it was woven in mostly well. It felt a bit similar to The Dry by the same author.
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Dementia, and Death
emkatsteen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Xenophobia
horizonous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Grief and Dementia
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Violence
◦ Mental illness = Depression, PTSD, survivor guilt◦ Sexual violence = Sexual comments and advances towards a minor
◦ Toxic relationship = Toxic masculinity
emileereadsbooks's review
- 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
4.25
Jane Harper writes character driven mysteries that are slower in pace, which is why it's surprising to me that I keep reading her work, I normally don't like books with a slower pace. But the way she writes about place and emotion and relationships is so engaging and captivating that I cannot stop wondering what she has up her sleeve next. She writes insular communities in such a way that you feel the social dynamics of them so viscerally.
Moderate: Dementia and Death
Minor: Suicide
ericarobyn's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In the prologue, we get a very quick glimpse into something that happened. When we dive into chapter one, it’s not clear whether that was a scene from the past, or if it’s where the story is going to end up. I though that element set the tone of the mystery wonderfully!
Moderate: Dementia, Grief, and Suicide
chelseasbookshelf2's review against another edition
- 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
I felt like we didn't really get to know each character very well. The last 1/3 of the book is where it starts to pick up and you find out more. One thing I was glad about was finding out some of the truth behind the "murder" toward the beginning of the story. The author could have kept the readers believing something about the main character until the very end, but let us in on part of the secret.
I enjoyed the ending of this and had guessed every single character at one point was responsible for the current death. Everyone had their secrets, and I didn't think the reader got to fully understand them all. I felt like there were many storylines left unfinished and as a reader left me confused. I think this story needed another couple of chapters to wrap it all up.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Dementia, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide