Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

11 reviews

_simply_cyndi_'s review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol

Minor: Chronic illness, Confinement, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Car accident, Abortion

artsbookhaven's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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At first I thought this was just going to be like a lot of the other mystery/thriller plotlines I've read recently. But oh boy, I was wrong. I thought the culprit was predictable, everything laid bare with all the essential clues hidden away just barely out of sight as they always are. This story made me think everything was exactly how it was said at the beginning, and every revelation made me feel reassured my suspicions for the true culprit was as real as the air I was breathing — I bet Theo thought the same. The twists and the turns kept me hooked —

at some points I thought Connor must have done it, then I thought Trevor did. They had me believe Magnus did it just to turn around and make it seem that young Alexis was at fault.

I have never been so confused and determined to find the truth in this story. I felt like everyone was a suspect, everyone was at fault. Usually stories that take you for such a crazy ride give me a whiplash I can't stand, but this one? This one hit the nail on the head with just enough speed to make the turns easier to stomach but leaving the mind a disoriented mess. Loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Murder

jpkthebard's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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An intense story (Theo’s past) embedded in another intense story (Theo’s present). Lots of twists and turns. Compelling story with an ending that I liked but which felt unjust, which is 100% the point.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism

glitterofink's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism

thatopalgirl24's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder

trisha_meseck's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Kate Alice Marshall’s writing is the definition of “the plot thickens”. So many twists and turns with a very layered plot. The isolation of cabins on a remote mountain and a rich family with secrets. What could go wrong? I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

sarahemily0425's review against another edition

3.75

mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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It’s your classic, everybody’s got secrets and they’re trapped in a secluded cabin in the woods kinda book. It’s also your classic, girl with troubled past lies to current (often rich) partner about said past and tries to forget about it.The book tried REALLY hard to constantly do “but wait ACTUALLY” with twists which was a little tiring but it was a fun and quick read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

libraryheather's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A dark & twisty thriller, with secrets being kept by most of the characters. One plot point is so much of a coincidence that  it requires one to suspend quite a bit of disbelief. And

the number of different people who confess to killing Theo's mother is ridiculous

. But these things didn't spoil any of the page-turning suspense. Theo was a fascinating protagonist, worth rooting for even with (or maybe because of) her troubled past. I felt I understood her decisions, even though I would have made different ones (e.g. I would never get engaged to someone after 3 months and before meeting their family.) I admired her refusal to be intimidated, her curiosity, and her tenacity. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary thrillers and isn't put off by the content warnings below.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Classism

Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, Pregnancy

hailey353's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Self harm, Car accident

kimveach's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark mysterious tense

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This chilling mystery kept me guessing until the end—an excellent winter thriller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness