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mommah's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I found this story to be very gripping. It was hard for me to put it down. The twists and turns were very good as well. The author seems to do a good job at pulling the reader in and keeping them there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
lwelch94's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Classism, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
miciahsreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Stalking, Abandonment, Bullying, and Vomit
birkenstonk's review
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
sharlapeggy's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Gripped me throughout. From the first sentence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
hannahelizza556's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
This was an excellent book. It is dark, mysterious and takes the reader on a complete whirlwind of emotions. The chapters are really quite short. it isn't until chapter 10 that the investigation really picks up - secrets were revealed that really made me gasp.
This book discusses various issues relating to post partum depression, extra marital affairs, kidnapping, mental health issues, starting and raising a family. The class system is an element here too. The main female character, Anne has family money behind her, something which her husband, Marco never had. This issue is emphasised by the main plot of the story. Marco allows Anne to believe that she has committed an awful crime, something that should be unthinkable between man and wife.
This book discusses various issues relating to post partum depression, extra marital affairs, kidnapping, mental health issues, starting and raising a family. The class system is an element here too. The main female character, Anne has family money behind her, something which her husband, Marco never had. This issue is emphasised by the main plot of the story. Marco allows Anne to believe that she has committed an awful crime, something that should be unthinkable between man and wife.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
jessspeake's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5
It took me a while to decide what to rate this book. I really enjoyed the pace and suspense but had some issues with character development, suspension of disbelief, and the ending.
synopsis
A couple has plans to go to a dinner party next door, but the babysitter cancels at the last minute. They decide to still go to the party, bring the baby monitor, and check on her every half an hour. During one of the checkups, they find that the baby is gone. The search for the missing baby uncovers so much more than just the kidnapper's identity, it exposes lies, deceit, and deadly secrets.
merits
This book was a compelling page turner and a fast paced read. I finished it quickly and didn't want to put it down.
I loved that this novel put the character's flaws in the spotlight - I always think it's more interesting to follow imperfect characters.
I enjoyed the heightened situations that these characters were in, and having to battle though not only the disappearance of their daughter, but also personal issues they were each struggling with.
critiques
This novel completely captivated my attention, but the ending left me wanting more. It feels like the author rushed through the ending. I wish she hadn't! I think putting in a couple of extra chapters, and taking as much time to build suspense in the ending as she had through the rest of the book would have served it well. Honestly the pace clipped along so quickly that even if this page had been a thousand pages, I still would have flown through it!
I also realized at the end that I had to suspend my disbelief in many moments. There were some things that happened that seemed unrealistic, and confusing. Maybe if there had been more time dedicated to the ending, I would have fully understood the author's choice to include those elements.
I also had issues with character development. The mother character appeared very weak, and I think she could have had more dimension to her grief. In grief, yes there is sadness, but there's also so much more.
overall
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, and would read it again. I loved how captivating and fast paced it was, but I wish more time had been dedicated to the ending. This is a book that the more I think about it, the more the problems with the character development and ending bother me.
synopsis
A couple has plans to go to a dinner party next door, but the babysitter cancels at the last minute. They decide to still go to the party, bring the baby monitor, and check on her every half an hour. During one of the checkups, they find that the baby is gone. The search for the missing baby uncovers so much more than just the kidnapper's identity, it exposes lies, deceit, and deadly secrets.
merits
This book was a compelling page turner and a fast paced read. I finished it quickly and didn't want to put it down.
I loved that this novel put the character's flaws in the spotlight - I always think it's more interesting to follow imperfect characters.
I enjoyed the heightened situations that these characters were in, and having to battle though not only the disappearance of their daughter, but also personal issues they were each struggling with.
critiques
This novel completely captivated my attention, but the ending left me wanting more. It feels like the author rushed through the ending. I wish she hadn't! I think putting in a couple of extra chapters, and taking as much time to build suspense in the ending as she had through the rest of the book would have served it well. Honestly the pace clipped along so quickly that even if this page had been a thousand pages, I still would have flown through it!
I also realized at the end that I had to suspend my disbelief in many moments. There were some things that happened that seemed unrealistic, and confusing. Maybe if there had been more time dedicated to the ending, I would have fully understood the author's choice to include those elements.
I also had issues with character development. The mother character appeared very weak, and I think she could have had more dimension to her grief. In grief, yes there is sadness, but there's also so much more.
overall
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, and would read it again. I loved how captivating and fast paced it was, but I wish more time had been dedicated to the ending. This is a book that the more I think about it, the more the problems with the character development and ending bother me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming and Murder
parttimerarebookdealer's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
ravensandlace's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
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This was not a good book. I am disappointed because I was looking forward to this book and I was so excited when I found this book for less than ten dollars (USD). I had read some pretty positive reviews and I was ready to be thrilled with mystery. Instead, I got a lot of just awfulness. The characters were incredibly unlikable and just plain dumb. They constantly made awful decisions and then complained about what their decisions cost them. The secret twist was revealed halfway through the book so I had to slog through the rest of it. Everything about this book was just awful.
The writing was not great either. It was incredibly stilted and I was just told things. I was told how the characters felt. I was told everything in such minute detail and repeatedly. It was a slog to read certain parts. It was a chore to read through the whole book. I basically guessed the twist about the first 100 pages or so.
The characters were the absolute worst. I can’t even be bothered to look up their names because I just couldn’t bring myself to care about them. They were so damn unlikable. Now I have no problem with unlikable characters. They can really make the book. But not this time. They constantly were doing just the dumbest things and it made me want to scream “THAT WON’T HELP YOU!”. I was just so annoyed with them all the time.
Overall, not a good book. The only kind of positive was Anne’s postpartum depression and how well it was depicted. I have never experienced postpartum depression as I don’t have a kid. But I felt like it was really well done and showed just how hard having depression and taking care of a child is. Course, she had another unspecified mental illness and the police made her look awful because of it. There was a point in the book where the police found her medications after searching the house and they immediately suspected her simply because she took depression medication. Great police work *rolls eyes*. That trope just needs to be retired. Honestly just avoid this book. It was really not good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Self harm
While there isn't police brutality, per se, the way the police officers were quick to judge about finding depression medication and made rude comments about it, can be triggering to some. There is also post partum depression displayed throughout most of the book.
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