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nselavka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
mukunamatata's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Blood, and Body horror
autumnrls's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Physical abuse, Body horror, Torture, Trafficking, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
kearac's review against another edition
2.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Grief
g1oielli's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Police brutality, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gore, Sexual content, Child death, Excrement, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death of parent, Rape, Trafficking, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Torture, Sexual assault, and Vomit
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Claire and Lydia, estranged sisters brought back together by another tragedy, embark on a journey almost twenty-five years old as new clues come to light about their older sister, Julia, who went missing when she was nineteen and was never found. Nothing is as it seems as present begins to connect rather ominously with the past.
This was my first Karin Slaughter book and man, did it deliver. It’s definitely a very dark book that seems to get darker with each shocking turn, not shying away from grisly facts or chilling thoughts. The writing was intense, fast-paced, evocative. Slaughter’s words made the story so vivid and realistic, my heart pounding the whole way through as if I were one of Julia’s sisters, too.
If you’re a fan of Gillian Flynn, you’ll also devour this one. I found their writing styles quite similar and engaging.
I loved the way this story played out, the different story arcs that came to fruition. Of course, the subject matter is even more sinister then you’d imagine out the gate, but it was used so well in this one.
I suspect I will be thinking of this book for a long time!!
Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Alcoholism, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Addiction, Gore, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Excrement, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, and Gun violence
Minor: Body horror
secre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
In the present you have Claire and Lydia, two sisters living very different lives. In the past you have their sister, abducted and never found more than two decades previous. But when Claire's husband is murdered seemingly randomly, Claire makes discoveries that show her husband in a very different light. Her discovery of a series of torture porn videos bare a shocking similarity to a recent missing girl, but bring back memories of her own sisters disappearance all that time ago. The two sisters re-connect after the funeral, although the fact that Lydia is in the process of gleefully urinating on the fresh grave makes for a slightly awkward reunion. The relationship between them is strained, but their connection isn't something that can be easily dismissed.
I have to admit, I felt the first half of the novel was significantly better than the second half. It opens with a murder and then it's a slow build up of information and evidence. It builds up well and I was fascinated by the narrative and whilst the characters weren't always likeable, they were at least very believable. But around the 50% mark it... loses it's way. It becomes ridiculously unrealistic, the torture porn is ramped up to 120 for no real reason or benefit and I found myself just rolling my eyes. It just became laughable. To begin with the villains of the piece seem all too possibly real. By the end, they are cartoonishly caricatured.
All in all, this was a disappointment. I was expecting a certain level of blood and gore, so my low rating isn't due to that. It is however due in part to how pointless said blood, gore and torture porn was; it added little to noting to the narrative. It's also due to how unbelievably stupid the plot gets in the latter half, how convoluted yet predictable and how cartoonish the villains become. Not Slaughter's best work by a mile.
Graphic: Murder, Death, Child abuse, Rape, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Child death
paperkindle's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
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I HAVE REACHED MY READING CHALLENGE OF 40 BOOKS WOOOHOOOO! This book was intense, but not as intense I hoped it would be. The murderer in this book, I hope no one will ever have to interfere with such a horrible person as that person. Gave me the chills. Three stars are enough for this book. It was not bad but also not really good. I read the last 100 pages really fast because I wanted to know what was going on and I think many people will have that with this book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Murder, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Body horror, Sexual violence, Addiction, Child death, Pedophilia, Grief, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Gore, and Stalking
Moderate: Suicide
autumnwhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence
mackenzieheidt's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment