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canadianbookworm's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-damage-done.html
krobart's review
3.0
Davidson has written a capable, fast-moving mystery that keeps your attention. The characters are interesting, and readers will like Lily and her affectionate gay friend Jesse. I guessed one part of the puzzle fairly early in the book, but the solution was more complicated than I thought. The writing could have used another edit, but I don’t think editors actually edit books anymore. Overall, though, the book was enjoyable and fun to read.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-damage-done/
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-damage-done/
sandin954's review
3.0
This was nominated for an Anthony Award for best first crime novel and I found it very readable with just the right amount of suspense and family angst. The ending did get a little complicated for my tastes but all the threads were brought together nicely and the main character was, for the most part, smart and engaging.
k_cavacini's review
4.0
I devoured this book. I thought the writing and the characters were interesting and the mystery kept me guessing. This book had me hooked!
maryfrances_odea's review
3.0
Good page turner mystery/suspense. Have to admit I really didn't like any of the characters, but I'm not sure you were supposed to.
hmonkeyreads's review
3.0
I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars but went with three because I didn't like these characters much.
I thought the mystery was really interesting and I didn't quite figure it out on my own. Somehow though I wasn't invested. Even though I was getting close to the answers to the puzzles I was easily distracted by TV or other things instead of feeling compelled to keep reading and that's why I went with 3 stars.
I know there is another book in this series and I do plan on reading it to see if the feel of the book improves for me now that Lily might be leaving some of her family baggage behind and getting back into being a travel writer. Globe trotting mystery solving still sounds fun!
I thought the mystery was really interesting and I didn't quite figure it out on my own. Somehow though I wasn't invested. Even though I was getting close to the answers to the puzzles I was easily distracted by TV or other things instead of feeling compelled to keep reading and that's why I went with 3 stars.
I know there is another book in this series and I do plan on reading it to see if the feel of the book improves for me now that Lily might be leaving some of her family baggage behind and getting back into being a travel writer. Globe trotting mystery solving still sounds fun!
marbles66's review
4.0
The Damage Done by Hilary Davidson won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel.
Lily Moore, a successful travel writer, fled to Spain to get away from her troubled, drug-addicted younger sister, Claudia. But when Claudia is found dead in a bathtub on the anniversary of their mother’s suicide, Lily must return to New York to deal with the aftermath.
The situation shifts from tragic to baffling when the body at the morgue turns out to be a stranger’s. The dead woman had been using Claudia’s identity for months. The real Claudia had vanished, reappearing briefly on the day her impostor died. As Claudia transforms from victim to suspect in the eyes of the police, Lily becomes determined to find her before they do.
Is Claudia actually missing, or is she playing an elaborate con game? And who’s responsible for the body that was found in the bathtub? An obsessive ex-lover? An emotionally disturbed young man with a rich and powerful father? Or Lily’s own former fiancé, who turns out to be more deeply involved with Claudia than he admits?
As Lily searches for answers, a shadowy figure stalks her and the danger to her grows. Determined to learn the truth at any cost, she is unprepared for the terrible toll it will take on her and those she loves.
This is the first book of this authors I have read and I must say I was impressed.
Lily Moore, a successful travel writer, fled to Spain to get away from her troubled, drug-addicted younger sister, Claudia. But when Claudia is found dead in a bathtub on the anniversary of their mother’s suicide, Lily must return to New York to deal with the aftermath.
The situation shifts from tragic to baffling when the body at the morgue turns out to be a stranger’s. The dead woman had been using Claudia’s identity for months. The real Claudia had vanished, reappearing briefly on the day her impostor died. As Claudia transforms from victim to suspect in the eyes of the police, Lily becomes determined to find her before they do.
Is Claudia actually missing, or is she playing an elaborate con game? And who’s responsible for the body that was found in the bathtub? An obsessive ex-lover? An emotionally disturbed young man with a rich and powerful father? Or Lily’s own former fiancé, who turns out to be more deeply involved with Claudia than he admits?
As Lily searches for answers, a shadowy figure stalks her and the danger to her grows. Determined to learn the truth at any cost, she is unprepared for the terrible toll it will take on her and those she loves.
This is the first book of this authors I have read and I must say I was impressed.
cnorbury's review
3.0
A solid debut novel with a complex, definitely flawed main character who obsessed a bit too much for my taste about her sister's mysterious death/disappearance. (We don't know until near the end). I didn't identity with many of the characters even though they were complex enough and believable (not stereotypes).
My main concern was a wandering plot and a muddled middle that lost pace and lessened the tension. Lots of conversations interspersed with little to no action/advancement of the plot. Understandable in that the MC, Lily, isn't a cop, just a woman trying to find out what happened to her sister and taking a proactive approach. But her bouncing around from suspect to suspect implied that the police weren't doing anything to solve the case.
If you're into unique female protagonists/amateur sleuths, you'll probably like this book. I couldn't find a lot wrong with it, but it didn't hold my interest as much as other debuts.
My main concern was a wandering plot and a muddled middle that lost pace and lessened the tension. Lots of conversations interspersed with little to no action/advancement of the plot. Understandable in that the MC, Lily, isn't a cop, just a woman trying to find out what happened to her sister and taking a proactive approach. But her bouncing around from suspect to suspect implied that the police weren't doing anything to solve the case.
If you're into unique female protagonists/amateur sleuths, you'll probably like this book. I couldn't find a lot wrong with it, but it didn't hold my interest as much as other debuts.
nonna7's review against another edition
4.0
Lily is a travel writer who escaped to Spain leaving behind her sister, Claudia, an on again/off again (mostly on) drug addict, as well as a hovering, grasping fiance, Martin. She has been paying the rent on her New York apartment so that her sister wouldn't have to live on the streets. Claudia is the only relative she has. Both of their parents committed suicide. By the time Lily was in college and Claudia still in high school, both of their parents were gone. After a very long absence she returns when she is informed by the police that her sister is dead. However when she finally gets to see the body, she is shocked and appalled because the body is not Claudia. This is an interesting book with a lot of twists and turns. I wasn't sure how it was going to come together. The author doesn't disappoint. The solution isn't obvious. This is a book that could be turned into a really good film if someone was willing to do it right. The author has been an author of travel books as well as short crime fiction stories that were very well received. This is her first crime fiction novel. Hopefully, she'll write many more.