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zandalee's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
I did listen to this on audio, it was well narrated. I think I probably would’ve connected with it more if I had read it rather than listened. If you’re a mom that gets pretty sad with negative childhood events this may not be the book for you as there are some heavy topics throughout like SA. Not my fav mom noir I’ve read but would be a good introduction into the genre.
Felt like there were some unnecessary story lines.
Felt like there were some unnecessary story lines.
gabbyscarlet's review
5.0
So glad I took a chance and read this!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I picked this copy up from my local library. I had a TBR prompt of reading “the highest rated thriller” on my list and while that book was not available, this book, which was by the same author, was and so I took it. Great success. Just makes me want her other books more!
This is a slow burn thriller, so if you’re not into storylines and would rather have a lot of action, this may not be for you. I really enjoyed the legal aspect of the story, as that was my field of study in university! I think overall Sadie and Robin were likeable characters, constructed carefully to make you invested in what they’re doing the entirety of the novel. And honestly, I like how Sadie was determined to stay away from Andrew for a while due to how she was treated. A lot of the time, I notice that female characters are written to be naive or emotionally vulnerable to the point that it’s frustrating, but we didn’t see any of that here!
The twists at the end of the book will have you pointing the finger at everyone close to Sadie… 10/10 recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I picked this copy up from my local library. I had a TBR prompt of reading “the highest rated thriller” on my list and while that book was not available, this book, which was by the same author, was and so I took it. Great success. Just makes me want her other books more!
This is a slow burn thriller, so if you’re not into storylines and would rather have a lot of action, this may not be for you. I really enjoyed the legal aspect of the story, as that was my field of study in university! I think overall Sadie and Robin were likeable characters, constructed carefully to make you invested in what they’re doing the entirety of the novel. And honestly, I like how Sadie was determined to stay away from Andrew for a while due to how she was treated. A lot of the time, I notice that female characters are written to be naive or emotionally vulnerable to the point that it’s frustrating, but we didn’t see any of that here!
The twists at the end of the book will have you pointing the finger at everyone close to Sadie… 10/10 recommend!
kyra_c_c's review
4.0
This is no paint-by-numbers thriller: so much dark stuff happens in this book! My heart was hammering away by the last third and I didn't guess all the twists. Tyce's writing is taut, addictive and really enjoyable to read. The initially absurd (but later chilling) encounters with the posh school mums had me chuckling away. Sadie was a deeply sympathetic character. 4 stars only because one of the twisty turny plot lines had a slightly meh ending. I only got this out of the library because they didn't have Blood Orange available and I can't wait to read that!
popgoesbitty's review against another edition
4.0
TWs: grooming, rape, murder involving children
I have to give this novel 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to a 4) because I love Harriet Tyce's writing so much, but this was a relatively weak follow up to her debut Blood Orange. Blood Orange is in my top 5 thrillers of all time and the only one I'll speak in the same sentence as Gone Girl. Therefore I was really looking forward to reading this one.
A lot of the novel had a lot of potential but fell short when it started to matter. An example of this is the plot breaks (the italicized chapters sprinkled throughout the first 80% of the book). These were really intriguing and I had a ton of interesting theories as to who was speaking and what was happening. It turned out to be the least interesting part of the entire book.
Then there was the resolution(s). Everything tied up in WAY too nice of a bow for a dark Harriet Tyce thriller. I found myself shaking my Kindle asking, "why...WHY?" as the novel's events began to conclude. There was so much opportunity for this book to become majorly f*cked up, in a good way, and none of it delivered.
And yet, here I am giving it 4 stars! All of the above considered, it was still very much a Harriet Tyce read. The pages turned themselves. The characters were frustrating, flawed, and juicy. Personally, I read thrillers more for the journey than the ending, and this one was just fun. Definitely pick this one up (and Blood Orange!) if you want a fun, binge-y book. Just don't expect the masterpiece plot complexity of a Gillian Flynn novel.
I have to give this novel 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to a 4) because I love Harriet Tyce's writing so much, but this was a relatively weak follow up to her debut Blood Orange. Blood Orange is in my top 5 thrillers of all time and the only one I'll speak in the same sentence as Gone Girl. Therefore I was really looking forward to reading this one.
A lot of the novel had a lot of potential but fell short when it started to matter. An example of this is the plot breaks (the italicized chapters sprinkled throughout the first 80% of the book). These were really intriguing and I had a ton of interesting theories as to who was speaking and what was happening.
Spoiler
The fact it ended up simply being the narrator, falling into the course of the main plot arch, was weak sauce. Worse than weak sauce. It was like...nothing sauce.Then there was the resolution(s). Everything tied up in WAY too nice of a bow for a dark Harriet Tyce thriller. I found myself shaking my Kindle asking, "why...WHY?" as the novel's events began to conclude. There was so much opportunity for this book to become majorly f*cked up, in a good way, and none of it delivered.
And yet, here I am giving it 4 stars! All of the above considered, it was still very much a Harriet Tyce read. The pages turned themselves. The characters were frustrating, flawed, and juicy. Personally, I read thrillers more for the journey than the ending, and this one was just fun. Definitely pick this one up (and Blood Orange!) if you want a fun, binge-y book. Just don't expect the masterpiece plot complexity of a Gillian Flynn novel.
jordongmc's review against another edition
2.0
This would have been three stars but seriously who goes to work when their child is missing??!!!
byo_books's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Don't bother.....
ashleighheartsbooks's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
victoria_2002's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this more than Blood Orange. That being said, the pacing of the book felt very similar to Blood Orange, slow with not much happening in the first 300 pages. I did enjoy the epilogue, that gave me a small chill but I think it was a bit of a silly and unexplained plot twist. Maybe it could have benefited from having other POVS. The writing style was nice and easy to read but overall the pacing was too slow and I didn’t feel much emotion while reading.