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nbonz4's review
5.0
I began with an excerpt of A Nearly Normal Family which I enjoyed enough to request an advanced copy of this thrilling novel. It has become popular to switch between perspectives as a story unfolds, usually doing so from chapter to chapter. This time, however, it has been broken into three perspectives, in three parts, providing a continuous story without much overlap between them. I enjoyed the voices of the different narrators: Stella, your typical teen; her father, torn between protecting his family and doing what is strictly "right;" and her mother, experiencing the legal system as something other than a lawyer now.
This book held my attention and drew me back over and over until the last page. I had to know what happened, who did what, when...why?? A truly gripping and original book, this is one is sure to please.
This book held my attention and drew me back over and over until the last page. I had to know what happened, who did what, when...why?? A truly gripping and original book, this is one is sure to please.
sarabookdragon's review
4.0
4.5 ⭐/5
it has been a while since I enjoyed a thriller the way I enjoyed this.
Let's dive right in :
PROS:
1- the book was written in three different perspectives, and each perspective got better than the one before.
2- the different perspectives added depth to the characters
3- it also managed to unravel the plot artistically always allowing for more questions to replace the ones answered instead of repeating the same given, and getting the reader annoyed from the repetition of the same question.
4- the one main mystery will, of course, take a while to get revealed, hence a mystery thriller.
5- the family mystery added some interesting elements given who the family was, and it's different than the mainstream husband and wife thrillers.
6- the pace was perfect, the actions taken were understandable, everyone worked upon what they think is best, and...
7- THERE was COMMUNICATION for the most part, and so some stuff was agreed upon or were changed or revealed accordingly, which is more realistic than the lack of communication.
8- the last few chapters kept you swaying back and forth, is it her, is it (the other person) [avoiding spoilers]
9- the reveal of what happened toward the end was a great way of untwisting the final scene of the plot
10- the book is translated into English, so despite what could have been lost in translation, it still stood out to be an enjoyable special read.
CONS:
1- the first perspective, to me was the most annoying, although not as bad as it may sound, still, the dad's way of thinking and actions were slightly annoying.
2- I repeat again, I hate when the author includes religion and disses on ideologies in their books, it bothers me so much, like why not focus on everything else, from the logic to the irrational behaviors, to YOU as a person, and leave religion alone!!!!
3- the one thing I found it annoying/unrealistic from the mother's POV is what she did, and how far she went to protect someone, I think no matter how much you love or relate to a person, it cannot get to the point the mother has taken [avoiding spoilers again]
4- there was one character that was introduced for a while, was painted to have a major role in the murder, but then suddenly disappeared and we never knew what happened to her again (the ex). she was more like a plot drive, which I understand, but I was also waiting for a reason why she was just forgotten!!
it has been a while since I enjoyed a thriller the way I enjoyed this.
Let's dive right in :
PROS:
1- the book was written in three different perspectives, and each perspective got better than the one before.
2- the different perspectives added depth to the characters
3- it also managed to unravel the plot artistically always allowing for more questions to replace the ones answered instead of repeating the same given, and getting the reader annoyed from the repetition of the same question.
4- the one main mystery will, of course, take a while to get revealed, hence a mystery thriller.
5- the family mystery added some interesting elements given who the family was, and it's different than the mainstream husband and wife thrillers.
6- the pace was perfect, the actions taken were understandable, everyone worked upon what they think is best, and...
7- THERE was COMMUNICATION for the most part, and so some stuff was agreed upon or were changed or revealed accordingly, which is more realistic than the lack of communication.
8- the last few chapters kept you swaying back and forth, is it her, is it (the other person) [avoiding spoilers]
9- the reveal of what happened toward the end was a great way of untwisting the final scene of the plot
10- the book is translated into English, so despite what could have been lost in translation, it still stood out to be an enjoyable special read.
CONS:
1- the first perspective, to me was the most annoying, although not as bad as it may sound, still, the dad's way of thinking and actions were slightly annoying.
2- I repeat again, I hate when the author includes religion and disses on ideologies in their books, it bothers me so much, like why not focus on everything else, from the logic to the irrational behaviors, to YOU as a person, and leave religion alone!!!!
3- the one thing I found it annoying/unrealistic from the mother's POV is what she did, and how far she went to protect someone, I think no matter how much you love or relate to a person, it cannot get to the point the mother has taken [avoiding spoilers again]
4- there was one character that was introduced for a while, was painted to have a major role in the murder, but then suddenly disappeared and we never knew what happened to her again (the ex). she was more like a plot drive, which I understand, but I was also waiting for a reason why she was just forgotten!!
lydiam1003's review
3.5
Intriguing mystery that had me guessing but characters were very unlikeable and storyline was bizarre in a not good way. Cultural difference maybe?
charskindle's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
novelvisits's review
5.0
{My Thoughts}
A couple of years ago I might have said that legal thrillers weren’t my thing, but not anymore. A Nearly Normal Family joins the ranks, that already includes books like Miracle Creek (my review) and Quicksand (my review), to make the sub-genre one of my favorites. This latest courtroom thriller by Swedish author M.T. Edvardsson may be my favorite yet!
A terrible crime has been committed. A man was stabbed to death. An 18-tear old girl, Stella Sandell, is arrested for the crime. Many facts point to her guilt, but could Stella have done such a thing and if so, why? How can she be saved from a life behind bars? These are the questions her parents must wrestle with.
M.T. Edvardsson let the story of A Nearly Normal Family unfold in three different parts, one from each member of the Sandell family. From Adam, Stella’s father and a pastor, we heard a frantic history of Stella’s youth (including indiscretions) and all he knew about his daughter on the night in question.
“I consider myself to be a good person. That sounds arrogant, of course, if not self-important or superior. But I don’t mean it like that. I’m a person with an abundance of failings, a person who has made innumerable mistakes and errors. I am acutely aware of this and the first to admit it. What I mean is that I always act with good intentions, out of love and care. I have always wanted to do the right thing.”
But, when it comes to his daughter, what is the right thing? From Stella we got a much different perspective on her past and a close up view of the night of the murder. And from Stella’s mother Ulrika, a criminal defense attorney, we heard a calmer version of the past and a mother’s hopes for her daughter’s defense. The three parts were told in succession, picking up speed with each one. They beautifully wove together the mystery of how a normal family could have fallen so far. Whether in print or on audio, I highly recommend A Nearly Normal Family. Grade: A-
Narration: The three narrators really couldn’t have done a better job bringing their characters to life. Richard Armitage embodied the anguish of a father who both loves and fears his own daughter. Georgia Maguire delivered the heart of the story in Stella’s perspective, coming across as young, but world-weary. And, Emily Watson was outstanding reading a woman torn between her need to follow her own legal instincts and her love for her daughter. You could feel her anguish! Grade: A
For more reviews and bookish news: https://novelvisits.com/
A couple of years ago I might have said that legal thrillers weren’t my thing, but not anymore. A Nearly Normal Family joins the ranks, that already includes books like Miracle Creek (my review) and Quicksand (my review), to make the sub-genre one of my favorites. This latest courtroom thriller by Swedish author M.T. Edvardsson may be my favorite yet!
A terrible crime has been committed. A man was stabbed to death. An 18-tear old girl, Stella Sandell, is arrested for the crime. Many facts point to her guilt, but could Stella have done such a thing and if so, why? How can she be saved from a life behind bars? These are the questions her parents must wrestle with.
M.T. Edvardsson let the story of A Nearly Normal Family unfold in three different parts, one from each member of the Sandell family. From Adam, Stella’s father and a pastor, we heard a frantic history of Stella’s youth (including indiscretions) and all he knew about his daughter on the night in question.
“I consider myself to be a good person. That sounds arrogant, of course, if not self-important or superior. But I don’t mean it like that. I’m a person with an abundance of failings, a person who has made innumerable mistakes and errors. I am acutely aware of this and the first to admit it. What I mean is that I always act with good intentions, out of love and care. I have always wanted to do the right thing.”
But, when it comes to his daughter, what is the right thing? From Stella we got a much different perspective on her past and a close up view of the night of the murder. And from Stella’s mother Ulrika, a criminal defense attorney, we heard a calmer version of the past and a mother’s hopes for her daughter’s defense. The three parts were told in succession, picking up speed with each one. They beautifully wove together the mystery of how a normal family could have fallen so far. Whether in print or on audio, I highly recommend A Nearly Normal Family. Grade: A-
Narration: The three narrators really couldn’t have done a better job bringing their characters to life. Richard Armitage embodied the anguish of a father who both loves and fears his own daughter. Georgia Maguire delivered the heart of the story in Stella’s perspective, coming across as young, but world-weary. And, Emily Watson was outstanding reading a woman torn between her need to follow her own legal instincts and her love for her daughter. You could feel her anguish! Grade: A
For more reviews and bookish news: https://novelvisits.com/
arrrjae's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
learningtoreadagain's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I guessed the ending but they really had me questioning myself, so many little twists to make up one big one.
vandermeer's review against another edition
1.0
Daddy is an idiot. Other reviews confirm that it won’t get better.