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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5 stars.
Kate is a glamorous grande dame in Florida society, as well as a self-made real estate developer and power broker in Florida politics. Julie had a hard time growing up in her mother’s shadow, but she loves her mother and she is thrilled when her mother marries her long-lost high school sweetheart, Charlie. Their storybook romance ends abruptly when, on Kate and Charlie’s wedding night, Kate calls the police in hysterics after Charlie confesses to a decades-old unsolved crime. Charlie says Kate imagines this confession and Julie’s husband Eric says that Kate has dementia. As Julie tries to navigate through this maze of paranoia and mind games, it begins to seem that Eric is keeping secrets in their marriage.
I’ve had my eye on SHELL GAMES and patiently waited for my library to obtain a digital copy. It’s a fast-paced, compelling, and suspenseful read with a plot that’s filled with twists and turns. Each character is suspect in some manner, making each of their actions require a second look. They’re also well-written and realistic, though not wholly likable.
I liked the plot and characters overall, but the ending left me feeling dissatisfied. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about it that troubled me, maybe it was too abrupt or too ambiguous for my liking? Regardless, this was my first experience with this author’s work but definitely will not be the last!
Kate is a glamorous grande dame in Florida society, as well as a self-made real estate developer and power broker in Florida politics. Julie had a hard time growing up in her mother’s shadow, but she loves her mother and she is thrilled when her mother marries her long-lost high school sweetheart, Charlie. Their storybook romance ends abruptly when, on Kate and Charlie’s wedding night, Kate calls the police in hysterics after Charlie confesses to a decades-old unsolved crime. Charlie says Kate imagines this confession and Julie’s husband Eric says that Kate has dementia. As Julie tries to navigate through this maze of paranoia and mind games, it begins to seem that Eric is keeping secrets in their marriage.
I’ve had my eye on SHELL GAMES and patiently waited for my library to obtain a digital copy. It’s a fast-paced, compelling, and suspenseful read with a plot that’s filled with twists and turns. Each character is suspect in some manner, making each of their actions require a second look. They’re also well-written and realistic, though not wholly likable.
I liked the plot and characters overall, but the ending left me feeling dissatisfied. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about it that troubled me, maybe it was too abrupt or too ambiguous for my liking? Regardless, this was my first experience with this author’s work but definitely will not be the last!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
I wanted to like this book but just couldn’t get into it. The characters are all unlikable, the writing is clunky, and it was gaslighting on top of gaslighting. It held my interest, but the plot was sudden and jumpy and understanding the present in relation to past events was difficult. I don’t think this is an author I will read again.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fast paced mystery where everyone's motivations are all over the place but it was a light, fun read. This isn't a life changing book or anything, it's a silly mystery with a solid ending.