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evekcarroll's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I think thrillers should be read blindly (I read the blurb, and I'll be honest say that this may have contributed to my overall disappointment). But briefly, the general set up for this book is that a girl with a popiscle disappeared years ago and the case has remained cold. It is a peculiar and sad case that leads us to Needless Street through the eyes of Ted, a murder suspect. As readers, we linger in several minds throughout this book, that of Ted and his cat (yes, there is a perspective of a cat) and Dee, a determined woman seeking to avenge her sister.
Indeed, this book is twisted and dark. I mean exploring the world through the eyes of an alleged murderer is an unsettling experience, and did make for a distrubing atmosphere throughout. But I think the perspective of the cat is where the light shines in this book. This is more imaginative than the plot itself in my opinion. I do think that the author makes each character distinctive and they all have their unique voices. However, I struggled through Ted's chapters as I just couldn't make sense of what was going on, and perhaps that was the goal, and I guess it was judging where the plot went, but it was so confusing at times that I just felt bored.
The writing is accessible and descriptive at times, it was not hard to picture scenes. But I just think the plot could have been more fleshed out. It isn't unusual to read thrillers dedicated to missing children and and creepy old men who are unrealistically hunted by family of the missing. There just wasn't a wow factor, or shock, that thrillers so desperately need in order to stand out. The twist (if you can even call it that) was predictable. Yes, seeds were planted early on in the book, but I would argue they were not seeds but flowers already in bloom, it was that obvious to me. When all was revealed, I found myself counting how many pages were left in the hopes that there was more to come. There wasn't. Thrillers shouldn't be like that.
I will give the book some credit from the perspective that it offers an interesting exploration of mental health. But definitely be warned that this may be extremely triggering.
I think I have read too many thrillers like this, and I think thrillers need to thrill, as it didn't thrill me I have to rate this low. I think this would suffice as a good starting point for people looking to get into reading adult thrillers.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Child abuse, Self harm, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, and Blood
terrestrial_river's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Addiction, Death, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Suicide, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Medical content and Abandonment
amandanerissa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Addiction, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Moderate: Animal death and Medical trauma
kcelena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Torture, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gore, and Mental illness
corncake'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Torture, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Animal death, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Kidnapping, Suicide, Murder, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Vomit
themaddbeanie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Yeah, someone's mental illness is not your horror story. You can't just steal a real disorder and turn it into a "freak show" for others to gawk at. Disrespectful
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Abandonment, Child abuse, Grief, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Medical content, Confinement, Death, Animal cruelty, Child death, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gore, and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Body horror, and Vomit
I feel like this could potentially be very upsetting for people with certain mental illnesses or those who have experienced abuse.mlewis's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Grief, Medical content, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Self harm
Minor: Classism and Fatphobia
kristielee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Child abuse, Murder, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Addiction, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Kidnapping
libraryofdoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The premise is that a woman moves to a street where the man who she believes abducted her younger sister 11 years ago lives. The novel is both about that and absolutely not about that (I know, frustrating when you’re trying to decide whether to read it). I definitely advise reading the trigger warnings and going in somewhat prepared. If you like mental health rep, unreliable narrators and horror that makes you think, this is for you.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia
klitanightfuryreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It was a rollercoaster that I didn’t want to end, I could easily read a second book about it. I thought I had it figured it out at first, then changed my mind, then everything was upside down and then everything made sense…
I may come back and write a more detailed reviewed later but right now I’m still processing and enjoying what happened…
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Suicide