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kyra_c_c's review
5.0
5 stars might be influenced by the fact I read this whilst camping in the sweltering heat in a small town so it added some extra realism to the story! This was a taut and gripping story with a satisfying ending - that perfect mix of thrill and annoyance that I ALMOST guessed whodunit correctly. Coming from a claustrophobic farming village, I felt the sense of tension ratcheting up and everyone being in your business was very accurately portrayed. Falk was a great sympathetic but flawed protagonist and I want to read more of Harper's stuff immediately.
rox_12's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
hanzy's review
4.0
This was a classic mystery with all the right elements. It got quite frustrating at times with the small town madness, actions with no repercussions, and the hostility thrown at our protagonist. It wasn’t as unpredictable in the whodunnit aspect as much as the whys I’d say, for that is what had intrigued me most
megan_scullion's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
jess2obsess's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Rape, Incest, Gun violence, Death, Suicide, Violence, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Animal death
Minor: Infidelity
bookph1le's review
2.0
Definitely the exception here. I didn't dislike this book or think it was bad, per se, but I was unconnected and not very interested in it for the bulk of the book. I think this partially stems from not really feeling a connection with Falk as a character. He felt somewhat unknowable to me. I also didn't really like the subplot of his past mystery because I felt like the book stretched it out way too much.
The writing could use a little refining too.
I think I also felt disconnected from the setting because I didn't particularly like any of the secondary characters. Raco is maybe the best, but even he didn't feel fully fleshed out to me. All the other characters felt vaguely stereotypical. We had the high school hottie, the bully from a bad family, the suspicious townspeople...
Lastly, I didn't much care for the way the flashbacks were written, because I didn't like how the book kept shifting perspective. I don't have a problem with books told from multiple perspectives, but only when it's done as an integral part of the narrative. This book uses perspective shifts to help move the plot along, and that I don't like. If I'm not hearing from a character regularly, I don't suddenly want their perspective to pop up because the plot demands it.
I won't be reading the next book in the series as this book and I just did not click.
The writing could use a little refining too.
Spoiler
In particular, the chapter where Falk finds the note with his phone number on it. There's an entire paragraph before it's revealed that the number is his that's *completely* unnecessary as, the second he found the number, I knew whose it was going to be. The paragraph is overwritten, trying to build up suspense, when I think it would have been more effective had it said something like "The number was his" instead of something along the lines of "He didn't even have to question whose number it was..." That felt so melodramatic to me.I think I also felt disconnected from the setting because I didn't particularly like any of the secondary characters. Raco is maybe the best, but even he didn't feel fully fleshed out to me. All the other characters felt vaguely stereotypical. We had the high school hottie, the bully from a bad family, the suspicious townspeople...
Lastly, I didn't much care for the way the flashbacks were written, because I didn't like how the book kept shifting perspective. I don't have a problem with books told from multiple perspectives, but only when it's done as an integral part of the narrative. This book uses perspective shifts to help move the plot along, and that I don't like. If I'm not hearing from a character regularly, I don't suddenly want their perspective to pop up because the plot demands it.
I won't be reading the next book in the series as this book and I just did not click.
jrmarr's review
4.0
A really great read. Loved the descriptions of country life, could almost feel the oppressiveness of the heat as well as the atmosphere. Had enough in it for me to not be sure of the outcome until almost at the end. I'll be looking out for other novels from this writer.
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0