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bookstarreviews_'s review
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
aquinn87's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
violetturtledove's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I always hate to give 'bad' reviews, and I will often give books the benefit of the doubt if they're not in my usual genre like this one, but I just didn't click with this at all.
It hits all the beats of a mystery plot: there's secrets from the past, crime plots, attempted murders (one successful), personal drama... But the way it's told I just didn't care about any of it.
I didn't like the writing style, with so much of it devoted to mundane details like people having a cup of tea, and the dialogue felt forced as every character explains all their thought processes out loud.
Another issue is that we get 'point of view' sections from the villians so there's never really much suspense about what's going to happen... The reader pretty much knows everything and is just waiting around for the characters to figure it out.
That all said, it's a light, easy read and there were some nice touches at the end but on the whole this one really wasn't my thing
It hits all the beats of a mystery plot: there's secrets from the past, crime plots, attempted murders (one successful), personal drama... But the way it's told I just didn't care about any of it.
I didn't like the writing style, with so much of it devoted to mundane details like people having a cup of tea, and the dialogue felt forced as every character explains all their thought processes out loud.
Another issue is that we get 'point of view' sections from the villians so there's never really much suspense about what's going to happen... The reader pretty much knows everything and is just waiting around for the characters to figure it out.
That all said, it's a light, easy read and there were some nice touches at the end but on the whole this one really wasn't my thing
melitabel's review
Lame. Features 3 sex- starved middle aged women. Power striggles around a recovered pleisiosaur fossil.
clotalksbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.75
Ad-pr
I enjoyed the setting, and always find fossils fascinating. Though I would have enjoyed a bit more learning about this.
Unfortunately I found the book to be a bit irritating. Although the story points were intriguing and I wanted to find out what was going to happen, the characters let it down. Their stupidity and self-sabotaging drove me bananas. Dave was the one redeeming character - loved him. The relationships were so frustrating and I wanted to slap the main character.
The narrator, although good at doing the voices etc. read like it was a children's book - so much enthusiasm which really didn't suit the dark and mysterious nature of the book.
I enjoyed the setting, and always find fossils fascinating. Though I would have enjoyed a bit more learning about this.
Unfortunately I found the book to be a bit irritating. Although the story points were intriguing and I wanted to find out what was going to happen, the characters let it down. Their stupidity and self-sabotaging drove me bananas. Dave was the one redeeming character - loved him. The relationships were so frustrating and I wanted to slap the main character.
The narrator, although good at doing the voices etc. read like it was a children's book - so much enthusiasm which really didn't suit the dark and mysterious nature of the book.
dstearns87's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
theneverendingtbrpile's review
4.0
This story follows Jemma, who makes a great discovery of a Plesiosaurus fossil on her local beach. An amazing find, which she is certain, will help her to save the local museum from the property developers, who want to knock it down for a snazzy hotel spa & casino.
Things start to head south when secrets from the past are threatened to be exposed, murders start taking place, and jealousy kicks in!
I really enjoyed this story. There were so many twists - they just kept on coming! I found the first half a little slow, but the second half, I absolutely flew through!
I would definitely recommend this book, a great suspenseful, cosy, murder mystery.
Things start to head south when secrets from the past are threatened to be exposed, murders start taking place, and jealousy kicks in!
I really enjoyed this story. There were so many twists - they just kept on coming! I found the first half a little slow, but the second half, I absolutely flew through!
I would definitely recommend this book, a great suspenseful, cosy, murder mystery.
martasbooktherapy's review
4.0
Thank you to the author for the audiobook in exchange, for my honest review.
Jemma Thorne is a workaholic. Divorced for years, she’s dating a sweet man and sometimes help raise her teen daughter, but largely throws herself into teaching and administration at the local university while sitting on the board of her town museum and getting out to hunt fossils any time she can.
When a chance moment on the beach with her sweet dog leads her to discover an intact plesiosaur fossil, Jemma becomes the belle of the ball, earning praise in the fossil hunting community and beyond. However, her career-boosting fame comes with a price as greedy folks seek to steal Plesi and profit from her.
Full of a wide range of characters, A Dangerous Fossil takes the reader on a journey to the English seaside. There are moments of suspense, moments of mystery, and a bit of romance sprinkled in as well. I really enjoyed Jemma and her daughter, while other characters were easy to hate (and rightly so!) An engaging, quick read with lots of intrigue. I found the nicknames given to a few characters a bit squeamish, and there was a lot more violence than I anticipated, but overall a lovely listen.
Jemma Thorne is a workaholic. Divorced for years, she’s dating a sweet man and sometimes help raise her teen daughter, but largely throws herself into teaching and administration at the local university while sitting on the board of her town museum and getting out to hunt fossils any time she can.
When a chance moment on the beach with her sweet dog leads her to discover an intact plesiosaur fossil, Jemma becomes the belle of the ball, earning praise in the fossil hunting community and beyond. However, her career-boosting fame comes with a price as greedy folks seek to steal Plesi and profit from her.
Full of a wide range of characters, A Dangerous Fossil takes the reader on a journey to the English seaside. There are moments of suspense, moments of mystery, and a bit of romance sprinkled in as well. I really enjoyed Jemma and her daughter, while other characters were easy to hate (and rightly so!) An engaging, quick read with lots of intrigue. I found the nicknames given to a few characters a bit squeamish, and there was a lot more violence than I anticipated, but overall a lovely listen.
wowshecanread's review
5.0
ok y’all i’m not kidding when i say this book fkn rocked (yes that way my attempt at an on-theme pun). seriously though, huge applause for John’s debut book, which is an absolutely gripping mystery about fossil hunters, nefarious plans, and some hidden romance.
i was drawn into this book before i even realized it and devoured it in just three days. i love books with shorter chapters and John works this to his advantage, keeping me hooked and turning pages well into the night.
i’ve never been much into fossils and dinosaurs but i’ll tell you, this book is SO fun and makes it easy for any reader to get into the drama. the plot twists kept me on my toes, and the outcome was delightful every time and actually had me gasping out loud at my book while i read. you KNOW it’s good when it’s got you talking out loud!
our MC Jemma is an independent lady who has worked hard to get to where she is, but that’s not without her fair share of traumas, which come back to haunt her in fascinating ways throughout the book. the cast of characters is dynamic and overall very fun, and i loved seeing how each of their stories played out.
this was overall a great and super engaging read that i’m desperately hoping will get a sequel! or perhaps the start of a series!? one can only hope
i was drawn into this book before i even realized it and devoured it in just three days. i love books with shorter chapters and John works this to his advantage, keeping me hooked and turning pages well into the night.
i’ve never been much into fossils and dinosaurs but i’ll tell you, this book is SO fun and makes it easy for any reader to get into the drama. the plot twists kept me on my toes, and the outcome was delightful every time and actually had me gasping out loud at my book while i read. you KNOW it’s good when it’s got you talking out loud!
our MC Jemma is an independent lady who has worked hard to get to where she is, but that’s not without her fair share of traumas, which come back to haunt her in fascinating ways throughout the book. the cast of characters is dynamic and overall very fun, and i loved seeing how each of their stories played out.
this was overall a great and super engaging read that i’m desperately hoping will get a sequel! or perhaps the start of a series!? one can only hope
lilith_bookshelf's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
"Jurassic" Jemma Thorne with the help of her dog, Dino, finds a fossil which might save not only the local museum but the whole fictional village of Lulcombe; however, nobody was ready for what this discovery would cause. Old memories, old acquaintances, and new opportunities will take place fighting to turn Jemmas' world around. And not necessarily in the good way...
After finishing this book I have to recognize I have mixed feelings. Overall, this book was fantastic. I loved the mystery, the writing, the adventure, the different situations that were developing throughout the whole book, and Jemma itself (the main character). I was able to relate with most of what she was feeling/living. However, there were some things I couldn't fully understand because there was not enough context, the resolution of something made no sense at all to me, or the decision taken by a character was completely nonsense. Other that that, this was a good read and I truly enjoyed it. Totally recommend: 4.5/5 stars.
After finishing this book I have to recognize I have mixed feelings. Overall, this book was fantastic. I loved the mystery, the writing, the adventure, the different situations that were developing throughout the whole book, and Jemma itself (the main character). I was able to relate with most of what she was feeling/living. However, there were some things I couldn't fully understand because there was not enough context, the resolution of something made no sense at all to me, or the decision taken by a character was completely nonsense. Other that that, this was a good read and I truly enjoyed it. Totally recommend: 4.5/5 stars.
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