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katsmeowbrown's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
readerturnedwriter's review against another edition
4.0
The writing was well done and the mystery was a good one, leaving me unsure until nearly the reveal. The ending wasn't my favorite, it was a little too "too good to be true" for me, not feeling like it had a realistic ending and was predictable. The story kept me engaged the entire time, though, and the pacing was well done.
nobookendinsight's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
4.0
castiellucis's review against another edition
5.0
Must say, this book suprised me. It's easy to read but still captivating. Mary Higgins Clarks exploration of human psyche through Laurie's multiple personalities disorder was amazing for me. Story itself is fluent and understandable.
dainarmb's review against another edition
3.0
After laboring through Shakespeare's Sonnets in the month of February, I sought out an easier, more digestible book to read and thought the thrill of a murder mystery would be perfect. After news of Mary Higgins Clark's recent passing this year, I thought it about time to start reading the books of hers that have been sitting on my TBR shelf for yeeears. "All Around The Town," a suspense/thriller, is an easy-to-read page-turner that I devoured in just two days!
From an editorial standpoint, the blurb on the book jacket gave away way too much information for me going into this book, so I'll try to keep my own summary vague enough!
The protagonist Laurie is kidnapped at just four-years-old and is held captive by an abusive couple for two years. After exposure, they drop her in a public place and threaten her life should she dare speak of her experience. Fast forward to her college years and a traumatic personal loss sets her into a dramatic downward spiral. It is up to her lawyer sister Sarah and a team of people who care about Laurie's well-being to save her from awful circumstances that stem directly from her abusive past.
The book's creep factor wasn't too high, which I appreciated! It was suspenseful enough just by the narrative, keeping me turning pages well into the night. I finished this book at 2 a.m. because I was ~30 pages from the end and the resolution hadn't happened yet! There were so many ends that needed to be tied up, I just had to finish it then and there. The chapters are short, which helped the book go by extremely quickly.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book for fans of suspense/thriller/mystery, but it wasn't quite a four-star rating for me.
From an editorial standpoint, the blurb on the book jacket gave away way too much information for me going into this book, so I'll try to keep my own summary vague enough!
The protagonist Laurie is kidnapped at just four-years-old and is held captive by an abusive couple for two years. After exposure, they drop her in a public place and threaten her life should she dare speak of her experience. Fast forward to her college years and a traumatic personal loss sets her into a dramatic downward spiral. It is up to her lawyer sister Sarah and a team of people who care about Laurie's well-being to save her from awful circumstances that stem directly from her abusive past.
The book's creep factor wasn't too high, which I appreciated! It was suspenseful enough just by the narrative, keeping me turning pages well into the night. I finished this book at 2 a.m. because I was ~30 pages from the end and the resolution hadn't happened yet! There were so many ends that needed to be tied up, I just had to finish it then and there. The chapters are short, which helped the book go by extremely quickly.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book for fans of suspense/thriller/mystery, but it wasn't quite a four-star rating for me.
lizlogan's review against another edition
4.0
Well done and suspenseful. I was constantly on the edge of my seat.
whispersofareader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
sateem326's review against another edition
2.0
اضطراب تعدد الشخصية الفصامي موضوع مستهلك في الروايات.لكن قليلًا ما يستخدم بشكل مقنع، مما يُحتسَب في صالح الكاتبة.. ليس القصد أن هذه الرواية قامت بتصوير تعدد الشخصيات بطريقة مثالية.. حيث أنها لم تخلَ من بعض الإشكاليات التي تتنافى مع ما تصوّره كتب اللعلم النفسي المتخصصة في هذا المجال.. لكن ذلك قد يُعزى إلى قلّة الأبحاث العلمية المتوافرة في وقت إصدار هذه الرواية قبل ما يقارب العشرين سنة مضت..
بعيدًا عن الإشكالات العلمية.. الطريقة التي تم اختيارها لسرد الأحداث "في رأيي الشخصي" لم تكن خطوةً موفقة من قِبل الكاتبة..
فصول قصيرة جدًا تحكى من وجهة نظر شخصيات متعددة.. طريقةُ سردٍ أعجبتني في عددٍ ليس بقليل من الروايات في السابق.
لكن وللأسف.. في هذه الرواية لم تتم كتابتها بإتقان مما أدّى لنتيجةٍ عكسية.. بدلاً من توفير منظورٍآخر للأحداث، كانت سببًا في تشتيت الذهن وانعدام التواصل العاطفي مع أي من الشخصيات..
الصدق أنني في حيرة من أمري من ناحية تقييم هذا العمل.. حيث أنه ليس بإمكاني التظاهر بأنّي أنصح أي أحدٍ بقرائتها.. لكن وفي نفس الوقت.. لم تكن قراءةً سيئةً أبدًا
بعيدًا عن الإشكالات العلمية.. الطريقة التي تم اختيارها لسرد الأحداث "في رأيي الشخصي" لم تكن خطوةً موفقة من قِبل الكاتبة..
فصول قصيرة جدًا تحكى من وجهة نظر شخصيات متعددة.. طريقةُ سردٍ أعجبتني في عددٍ ليس بقليل من الروايات في السابق.
لكن وللأسف.. في هذه الرواية لم تتم كتابتها بإتقان مما أدّى لنتيجةٍ عكسية.. بدلاً من توفير منظورٍآخر للأحداث، كانت سببًا في تشتيت الذهن وانعدام التواصل العاطفي مع أي من الشخصيات..
الصدق أنني في حيرة من أمري من ناحية تقييم هذا العمل.. حيث أنه ليس بإمكاني التظاهر بأنّي أنصح أي أحدٍ بقرائتها.. لكن وفي نفس الوقت.. لم تكن قراءةً سيئةً أبدًا