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blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I'm glad this book has gotten good reviews from other readers. I don't understand why, but I'm glad because I, personally, don't have a lot of positive things to say about it which is sad since I really don't like trashing books. However, I was misled by the high-star rating this book gets here and I want to make sure others know what they're getting into so they don't make the mistake (like I did) of purchasing a book they won't enjoy.
Let me confess, first of all, that books about psychics can be a really hard sell for me. I don't believe in all that woo-woo stuff, so this element has to be really convincing in order for me to suspend my disbelief. That didn't happen with STILL LIFE IN BLOOD. So, there's that. There's also the fact that the characters in this book are especially bland. None of them really have personalities, which made it difficult for me to feel like I knew any of them and thus tough to care about what happened to them. I'm especially confused as to why EVERY man Frenzy (an awful nickname by the way—it bugged me throughout the novel) knows is madly in love with her. WHY? She has no discernible personality. Also, she spends the vast majority of the story REacting instead of acting, which is one of my big literary pet peeves. A heroine should be making things happen instead of just watching from the sidelines or, worse, biding her time until someone bigger, stronger, and braver comes to her rescue. Ugh.
As far as plot goes, STILL LIFE IN BLOOD is fast-paced in some ways. In others, it drags along, with lots of unnecessary details and scenes. There are superfluous characters who show up for no apparent reason. There are also plot elements that go nowhere (like the fact that one of the victims and Frenzy's mother have the same last name—the connection is NEVER explored by any of the characters). Heidel's prose is also very tell-y and her book is riddled with typos. All these things considered, I found this book to be an overly long, poorly-edited novel filled with characters I didn't care about and an ending that feels unsatisfying. The killer is a surprise, yes, but only because there aren't any carefully-planted clues that lead to their identity.
I'll stop, but suffice it to say, I did not love this book. I didn't even like it and I definitely regret buying it. The only reason I kept reading it is because I needed a book set in Delaware for a reading challenge and those are really, REALLY hard to find.
Let me confess, first of all, that books about psychics can be a really hard sell for me. I don't believe in all that woo-woo stuff, so this element has to be really convincing in order for me to suspend my disbelief. That didn't happen with STILL LIFE IN BLOOD. So, there's that. There's also the fact that the characters in this book are especially bland. None of them really have personalities, which made it difficult for me to feel like I knew any of them and thus tough to care about what happened to them. I'm especially confused as to why EVERY man Frenzy (an awful nickname by the way—it bugged me throughout the novel) knows is madly in love with her. WHY? She has no discernible personality. Also, she spends the vast majority of the story REacting instead of acting, which is one of my big literary pet peeves. A heroine should be making things happen instead of just watching from the sidelines or, worse, biding her time until someone bigger, stronger, and braver comes to her rescue. Ugh.
As far as plot goes, STILL LIFE IN BLOOD is fast-paced in some ways. In others, it drags along, with lots of unnecessary details and scenes. There are superfluous characters who show up for no apparent reason. There are also plot elements that go nowhere (like the fact that one of the victims and Frenzy's mother have the same last name—the connection is NEVER explored by any of the characters). Heidel's prose is also very tell-y and her book is riddled with typos. All these things considered, I found this book to be an overly long, poorly-edited novel filled with characters I didn't care about and an ending that feels unsatisfying. The killer is a surprise, yes, but only because there aren't any carefully-planted clues that lead to their identity.
I'll stop, but suffice it to say, I did not love this book. I didn't even like it and I definitely regret buying it. The only reason I kept reading it is because I needed a book set in Delaware for a reading challenge and those are really, REALLY hard to find.
clipsicokeekee's review against another edition
5.0
Done in a week! That's a good thing for a book when it comes to me! Lol. Fantastic job Crystal! I could only wish to have the talent to write like that! Never a dull moment in this book. Read. It. Now!
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