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mitskienjoyer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Sexual assault
lizzieinmt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Grief and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
jessiebertram's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Group psychotherapist, Mariana, is pulled back into Cambridge University, where her neice Zoe is studying, and where, she herself and late husband met.
When one student dies, Mariana is quick to see connections that the police can't. To protect and help Zoe, she agrees to stay and ask questions, after all, asking never harmed anyone, right?
The dazzling Professor Fosca tops Mariana's list. His alibi's should rule him out after the second tragic student death, but both were in the Professor's secret study group and links him even more to the deaths.
Alex Michaelides draws you back into the world of psychotherapy, using Greek myths to disguise what's lurking in the shadows and culminates in a twist.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Mariana is our protagonist, a group therapist that I found to be unreliable but empathetic as narrator, a winning combination in the genre. I personally appreciated her healthy dose of suspicion and was intrigued by the way she interacted with others through a therapist's lens, interpreting behaviors and motivations. Did I doubt every person she interacted with, including her? YES of course I did. So naturally, I was partially correct at the end while also being wildly not correct, which I enjoyed immensely. I appreciate the author for his sleight of hand and the way he manages what I notice as a reader to lead me astray.
The last 10% of the book was a wild ride. At first, I was irritated at where I thought the big reveal was headed and started to adjust my expectations for the finale and the book as a whole (thrillers more than any other genre hinge on the ending for me in terms of how I feel towards it). Luckily, I was being tricked ~again~ and a quick shift left me surprised and much more satisfied.
I was impressed by the range of the audiobook narrator with sinister interludes from the serial killer's perspective from a different voice actor. I liked the way this obscured his identity by separating the main performance from the way his writings were read, i.e. I wasn't able to match voices to guess who he is.
Finally, I loved the unexpected The Silent Patient tie-in, a brief easter egg that was clever and enjoyable while remaining subtle enough to not detract from the reading experience if you aren't familiar with the author's other book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
skyejay95'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Murder
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, Grief, Stalking, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Blood, and Suicide attempt
mariacalvo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
_bookishbrina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
pace: fast
overall rating: 3.5/5
storyline: ★★★✩✩
characters: ★★★✩✩
character development: ★★✩✩✩
writing: ★★✩✩✩
diversity: ★✩✩✩✩
attention to detail: ★★★★✩
ending: ★★✩✩✩ (a bit rushed)
originality: ★★★✩✩
is there smut? no, however, there is mention of sex but no description.
Will I be reading the next book? Unsure. After two books from this author, the first being the silent patient, I am becoming acutely aware of how he enjoys putting his female characters in positions where they think they become paranoid - when they are, in fact, not. It's like every man (literally more than one male character per book harasses the main women) becomes a threat to his female characters. It's not only annoying, but it should not be used as entertainment. I thought it created great context in the silent patient, and felt that it was totally unnecessary in the maidens. To me, it did not add to the general ambiance or lifted the storyline. As a woman, please stop.
However, I did enjoy the story. The plot was a bit more predictable, albeit not completely. Loved the little wink at the silent patient by meeting Theo.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
km_loves_books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Alcohol
jasminewright's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment