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eclectic_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Like most of the reviews here, I'm not entirely sure what to make of this story. It shrouds itself in so much mystery that at one point I just want to be done with it. Unlike the fast pace thrillers that keeps me up all night wondering who the culprit is, Locust Lane is easy to put down and very forgettable. As it tries to build up tension and reach its climax, the various accounts of the actual event became repetitive and drawn out which only exacerbated my mental fatigue. And to make matters worse, the ending fell flat as it left me hanging unresolved feeling both sad and upset all at once. It's vaguely reminiscent of The Great Gatbsy in its theme but this one is no classic. It has great potential and the premise is good but how it was executed left a rather bad after taste; I was more confused than satisfied. I likely will not read from this author again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Sexism, Alcoholism, Self harm, Sexual content, and Drug abuse
emmas_bookshelf's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a good mystery/thriller. It took me a few chapters to get hooked, but once I was I could not put it down - seriously. The adult characters are actually of much more interest than the three teenagers named in the synopsis. I was desperate to figure out who the killer was right up until the end. It reminded me a lot of Defending Jacob which I also liked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Death, Infidelity, Alcohol, Drug use, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Rape, Self harm, and Violence
morethanmylupus's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This story centers around a murder but it isn't really about the murder or who did it. It's about how people interact with each other, what happens when accusations start being thrown against their children, and how a town comes to terms with what happened. It's also very much about privilege and how it impacts justice.
Overall, this story had a lot of potential. It skipped around from viewpoint to viewpoint a lot, which resulted in more superficial character development than I would have preferred. I also would have loved to know more about the victim because she was lost in all the drama. I think that was rather the point of the story, but it also made it harder to feel invested in the subplot of who actually was guilty of the murder.
If you're very into family and town dynamics, you may enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Overall, this story had a lot of potential. It skipped around from viewpoint to viewpoint a lot, which resulted in more superficial character development than I would have preferred. I also would have loved to know more about the victim because she was lost in all the drama. I think that was rather the point of the story, but it also made it harder to feel invested in the subplot of who actually was guilty of the murder.
If you're very into family and town dynamics, you may enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
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