Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
First, I'm really sorry it took me so long to read this book. Second, I'm so glad I did. I have to admit I was hesitant to read it because I'd heard so many good reviews I was sure it could never live up to what I expected. It did. The storyline was interesting and I love a mystery that delves into the past. The dialogue was snappy, though I could do without ever reading the phrase "shitnuts" again. That took me out of the story each time it was used, which was way too often in my opinion. Otherwise this novel was a well-written mystery, fast-paced, and really kept me guessing until the very end. Well done!
When reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found dead in the Bronx, her half-sister Lena refuses to believe it was an overdose. Despite their strained relationship, Lena knows Desiree's obsession with image would never allow her to be found that way. Dismissed by the police, Lena investigates her sister's death, uncovering surprising secrets and risking her own life to find justice.
I was a little hesitant to read this one, because the Goodreads reviews are not great. I am a little surprised that this book isn't more well liked. I thought it was a really well crafted mystery, that had me pointing the blame at many different characters. I felt this came together in an interesting way, and secrets were revealed at a great pace throughout. I will say that I did find it a little slow in the beginning, but there was a point where I felt the book hit a stride that kept me hooked. I did really like the main character, Lena, even though she made some questionable choices on her quest for answers.
I was a little hesitant to read this one, because the Goodreads reviews are not great. I am a little surprised that this book isn't more well liked. I thought it was a really well crafted mystery, that had me pointing the blame at many different characters. I felt this came together in an interesting way, and secrets were revealed at a great pace throughout. I will say that I did find it a little slow in the beginning, but there was a point where I felt the book hit a stride that kept me hooked. I did really like the main character, Lena, even though she made some questionable choices on her quest for answers.
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes
Just when you think you know, there's another twist. Very good read :)
Never a dull moment for this very modern fast-paced mystery. I felt like I was being pulled along on a wild ride, especially at the beginning of the read. I liked Lena’s character. She’s bright, loyal, and gutsy. Here are the things that kept this from being 5* for me. I didn’t like the dual name thing. Freck = Desiree? Naut = Neil Marks. I didn’t understand the significance of Zor-el in the story. I kept waiting for Zarah and her to have a part to play. What is the wrist itching thing that Lena has going on? It was never explained. I don’t understand how Erin is able to live as lavishly as she has been. It wouldn’t work for the average person. Although it was unexpected, I found the ending slightly anti-climactic.
Lena Scott is the first-born daughter of highly successful music persona, Mel Pierce. Her younger half-sister, Desiree Pierce, is found dead in the Bronx, Lena’s neighborhood, the morning after her twenty-fifth birthday. The police believe she died of a drug overdose. Although the two haven’t spoken in two years, Lena is heartbroken. She immediately questions what brought Desiree to within blocks of her home. Had she been on her way to see her? Lena doesn’t believe Desiree would have ever used heroin as she was averse to needles. Her quest to find the answers surrounding the circumstances of Desiree’s death never slows. It seems that she goes without sleep as she is constantly walking, biking or driving to interrogate anyone who might know something. She questions their father, Desiree’s boyfriend, her friends… just as suspicions settle on one person, new evidence is introduced that leads in another direction.
Lena Scott is the first-born daughter of highly successful music persona, Mel Pierce. Her younger half-sister, Desiree Pierce, is found dead in the Bronx, Lena’s neighborhood, the morning after her twenty-fifth birthday. The police believe she died of a drug overdose. Although the two haven’t spoken in two years, Lena is heartbroken. She immediately questions what brought Desiree to within blocks of her home. Had she been on her way to see her? Lena doesn’t believe Desiree would have ever used heroin as she was averse to needles. Her quest to find the answers surrounding the circumstances of Desiree’s death never slows. It seems that she goes without sleep as she is constantly walking, biking or driving to interrogate anyone who might know something. She questions their father, Desiree’s boyfriend, her friends… just as suspicions settle on one person, new evidence is introduced that leads in another direction.
I’m really struggling through this book.
I came for a murder mystery and instead got a detailed mapping of the NYC subway, each of the neighborhoods and the main character’s thoughts on them, and shitnuts.
The similes and analogies are off the charts. At least one every paragraph. It reads like an eight grade English exercise on literary elements. I’m not sure if the author thought she was injecting some quippy humor, but it lost its appeal after 70 pages.
“…gripping the test in my as if I’d taken it myself.”
“But he had a d*ck bigger than his IQ…”
“…she stuck hers out as if offering some blood oath.”
“I stared down at the pregnancy test as questions came at me like darts.”
“My blood ran colder than an Alpha Phi Alpha chant.”
“…she jumped when she saw me, like I was some manager who’d caught her slacking at work.”
“…making her butt look as lumpy as an at-home Brazilian butt lift.”
“Google is like a mom who tries so hard to be helpful…”
“I went to Instagram, which is as dependable as your period on the first day of vacation.”
“…observing the natives in their habitat like zoo animals.”
“Th end result was a building with more shapes than a game of Tetris.”
“He looked at me like I was a member of Beyoncé’s original group.”
All of those are direct quotes from an 8.5 page chapter. And once you notice it, you can’t stop noticing it. I couldn’t pay attention to the story because it got to be so distracting.
I haven’t finished it. I will probably skip to the end just to know whodunnit, but I really can’t sit through 230 more pages of that. Would not recommend.
I came for a murder mystery and instead got a detailed mapping of the NYC subway, each of the neighborhoods and the main character’s thoughts on them, and shitnuts.
The similes and analogies are off the charts. At least one every paragraph. It reads like an eight grade English exercise on literary elements. I’m not sure if the author thought she was injecting some quippy humor, but it lost its appeal after 70 pages.
“…gripping the test in my as if I’d taken it myself.”
“But he had a d*ck bigger than his IQ…”
“…she stuck hers out as if offering some blood oath.”
“I stared down at the pregnancy test as questions came at me like darts.”
“My blood ran colder than an Alpha Phi Alpha chant.”
“…she jumped when she saw me, like I was some manager who’d caught her slacking at work.”
“…making her butt look as lumpy as an at-home Brazilian butt lift.”
“Google is like a mom who tries so hard to be helpful…”
“I went to Instagram, which is as dependable as your period on the first day of vacation.”
“…observing the natives in their habitat like zoo animals.”
“Th end result was a building with more shapes than a game of Tetris.”
“He looked at me like I was a member of Beyoncé’s original group.”
All of those are direct quotes from an 8.5 page chapter. And once you notice it, you can’t stop noticing it. I couldn’t pay attention to the story because it got to be so distracting.
I haven’t finished it. I will probably skip to the end just to know whodunnit, but I really can’t sit through 230 more pages of that. Would not recommend.
A thriller full of twists and turns. It broke away from the same old patterns and tropes I come across in other thrillers.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated