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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
This was my first read from Sarah Pinborough and I listened
Nah.
I finished it because it wasn’t QUITE enough to DNF, but the depictions of race, sex work, and “voodoo,” combined with a fairly predictable set of twists, makes this whole thing a mess. I have another book of hers checked out but I think she just isn’t for me.
I finished it because it wasn’t QUITE enough to DNF, but the depictions of race, sex work, and “voodoo,” combined with a fairly predictable set of twists, makes this whole thing a mess. I have another book of hers checked out but I think she just isn’t for me.
I read most of this in one day, and then when I'm dog decided to wake me up at 4:30 am, I decided to stay awake and finish the book before going back to sleep.
And while I did guess who was behind the strange happenings, I didn't know the why of it, and watching all of it play out was a lot of fun.
And while I did guess who was behind the strange happenings, I didn't know the why of it, and watching all of it play out was a lot of fun.
Gifted by @williammorrowbooks ✨ If you know me you know I LOVE rich people behaving badly, so this had all of the makings of a smash hit. Steamy Savannah society folks being upturned by a minx from London who’s married a much older widower who’s unabashedly a gold digger? Yes please!
Marcie Maddox knows a little about gold digging herself, as she’s also a younger second wife who married way up. Her perfectly crafted facade is at risk when Keisha enters their circle, and she’ll do anything it takes to keep the lifestyle she’s fought so hard for. (You know, except get her own job.)
Maybe I’ve just been reading too many thrillers lately, but I was able to guess nearly all of the twists in this one. That generally doesn’t bother me but is worth noting- there are a lot of twists and turns and schemes and counter schemes, but I didn’t find any of it to be especially shocking. This ones got a lot of sex in it, which generally doesn’t bother me but parts seemed gratuitous and there just to “shock”. There is an element to the plot that I thought totally didn’t need to be there and was just added to make a unique story; it just made me want to skim through those parts. I will say I ran through this very quickly, as I wanted to see if these unlikable characters would get their comeuppance, and did they ever. All told, I liked Pinborough’s first two better and I’m not likely to remember the finer points of this long term. But if you pick it up, do go in blind- it seems I’m in the minority here! 3
Marcie Maddox knows a little about gold digging herself, as she’s also a younger second wife who married way up. Her perfectly crafted facade is at risk when Keisha enters their circle, and she’ll do anything it takes to keep the lifestyle she’s fought so hard for. (You know, except get her own job.)
Maybe I’ve just been reading too many thrillers lately, but I was able to guess nearly all of the twists in this one. That generally doesn’t bother me but is worth noting- there are a lot of twists and turns and schemes and counter schemes, but I didn’t find any of it to be especially shocking. This ones got a lot of sex in it, which generally doesn’t bother me but parts seemed gratuitous and there just to “shock”. There is an element to the plot that I thought totally didn’t need to be there and was just added to make a unique story; it just made me want to skim through those parts. I will say I ran through this very quickly, as I wanted to see if these unlikable characters would get their comeuppance, and did they ever. All told, I liked Pinborough’s first two better and I’m not likely to remember the finer points of this long term. But if you pick it up, do go in blind- it seems I’m in the minority here! 3
Rating: 3 stars.
This was definitely not what I expected at all. From the synopsis, I expected a completely different book.
I really liked the beginning and premise of this, but the storyline quickly changed. This was more of a romance novel than a thriller at times, which bothered me at first, however, I liked the romance and the characters a lot so I got used to it and I didn't really mind it eventually. Marcie was a great protagonist and I liked the split POV as well.
The middle of the book was very messy though, similar as in [b:Cross Her Heart|37486235|Cross Her Heart|Sarah Pinborough|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522434135l/37486235._SY75_.jpg|57682706]. It wasn't really clear what was going on and there were a lot of things mentioned which were never addressed again. There were also a lot of filler scenes and unnecessary dialogues which made the book drag.
The plot was quite all over the place and I didn't really get into it until the last third of the book, but afterward, I really liked it. The ending was fun and not what I expected and the epilogue just added to that. I loved how she wrapped it up and for me personally, the ending saved the book.
This was definitely not what I expected at all. From the synopsis, I expected a completely different book.
I really liked the beginning and premise of this, but the storyline quickly changed. This was more of a romance novel than a thriller at times, which bothered me at first, however, I liked the romance and the characters a lot so I got used to it and I didn't really mind it eventually. Marcie was a great protagonist and I liked the split POV as well.
The middle of the book was very messy though, similar as in [b:Cross Her Heart|37486235|Cross Her Heart|Sarah Pinborough|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522434135l/37486235._SY75_.jpg|57682706]. It wasn't really clear what was going on and there were a lot of things mentioned which were never addressed again. There were also a lot of filler scenes and unnecessary dialogues which made the book drag.
The plot was quite all over the place and I didn't really get into it until the last third of the book, but afterward, I really liked it. The ending was fun and not what I expected and the epilogue just added to that. I loved how she wrapped it up and for me personally, the ending saved the book.
I loved Pinborough's setting for her latest novel: the elite hierarchy of Southern ladies where trust and loyalty are both strong and tenuous. Despite the slow build I did like this one, just not as much as her other works (I think I also have unfair and unrealistic high expectations that SP will produce a 'Behind Her Eyes' with every new novel).
Honestly this book was very slow moving in the beginning and I wasn’t really sure what to rate it 3/3.5??? but about halfway through or so I couldn’t put it down and the ending was very interesting a book all about greed and revenge
Thank you Edelweiss and Harper Collins for an ARC of Dead to Her. I have been a fan of Sarah Pinborough for the last year or so after reading a novel, and doing as I do, immediately reading everything else she has written. I like to keep my eyes open for any new books coming up by my must read authors, and I was not let down at all. When I pick up a book of hers, I know that I am in for an enjoyable read, and not something that mirrors her previous books. The plot and characters are always original and something that not all author's can pull off. Some of her books start off fast paced and pull you right into some action and some start off as a slow burn. I usually am not a fan of slow burn style books, with Sarah being one of my few exceptions. This one is a slow burn through and through, but oh does it burn brightly and lead the way for you into intrigue and mystery, lighting your way just enough to still jump at the things that lurk around.
This is the type of book that I can't give as much away because going into it with just a general idea will make it all the more thrilling for you. Marcie is in the world of old money, country clubs and southern "bless your heart" style in Savannah. She married in as a trophy wife who stole her husband from his first wife. I mean, who hasn't done that down there? She doesn't come from money but she is determined to fit in AND make sure there never is a third Mrs. Maddox.
Her husband Jason's boss goes out of the country to recover from the loss of his first wife.....but he brings back more than just some souvenirs from his time away. He brings back a gorgeous, even younger than Marcie, second wife. A Black woman at that. Keisha quickly takes the place of Marcie as the shiny new trophy wife in their set of friends. This would lead to having an ally, except there is too much attraction between Jason and Keisha.
Marcie isn't just going to stand by and let that happen. Revenge will be what she has in store. But maybe Keisha is more than she bargained for, with her secrets and her determination to make sure she doesn't lose what she came here for.
This is the type of book that I can't give as much away because going into it with just a general idea will make it all the more thrilling for you. Marcie is in the world of old money, country clubs and southern "bless your heart" style in Savannah. She married in as a trophy wife who stole her husband from his first wife. I mean, who hasn't done that down there? She doesn't come from money but she is determined to fit in AND make sure there never is a third Mrs. Maddox.
Her husband Jason's boss goes out of the country to recover from the loss of his first wife.....but he brings back more than just some souvenirs from his time away. He brings back a gorgeous, even younger than Marcie, second wife. A Black woman at that. Keisha quickly takes the place of Marcie as the shiny new trophy wife in their set of friends. This would lead to having an ally, except there is too much attraction between Jason and Keisha.
Marcie isn't just going to stand by and let that happen. Revenge will be what she has in store. But maybe Keisha is more than she bargained for, with her secrets and her determination to make sure she doesn't lose what she came here for.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced