Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Return by Rachel Harrison

19 reviews

kt2e56's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Unlike most of the other reviews, I actually didn’t mind the buildup before shot hits the fan. I think it adds a lot to the story and makes the characters feel real, still a little annoying, but real. Some of their questionable decisions make sense because we spent so much time with them. The horror elements really work once shit kicks off. The tension is thick. The creature design is great. I really dug it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Body horror, Confinement, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Violence, and Vomit

amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is more a physiological thriller than supernatural or creepy hotel horror. The relationships between the friends were very believable. I wish there had been more horror elements and more tension build up.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Murder and Death

Minor: Eating disorder

cjblates's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Grief

Minor: Cancer and Car accident

wrestleacademic's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• 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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Body horror, Infidelity, Abandonment, Violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Murder

Moderate: Racism and Ableism

f18's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I should have really enjoyed this but the last-act infodump really drug it down for me and everything after had zero tension or intrigue.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, and Murder

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Vomit, Infidelity, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content, Addiction, Car accident, and Grief

teacher/student relationship, a LOT of tooth trauma

francesbobances's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this book was a fun, quick read. i feel that much of the plot was rushed and could have been filled out into a chilling story.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Murder, Eating disorder, and Vomit

sarahholliday'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've only recently realized how much I enjoy horror stories, and novels like The Return are a huge part of that. 

Harrison manages to make the fears and anxieties that plague all twenty-something women--evolving friendships, the search for identity, financial insecurity--into tangible, terrifying horrors. 

I would have loved to catch more glimpses of the girls' group dynamic before Julie disappeared, and I wish there had been more explanation regarding the strange incidents at the hotel, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this feminist horror and will be recommending it to anyone looking for a good jump scare!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, and Violence

lilifane's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

It was okay. 
I liked some aspects of the book a lot. Like the friendship dynamics, I enjoyed those a lot. And I liked the protagonist, she reminded me of myself. But I didn't enjoy the reading process. I was surprised by the direction the book took halfway into it because I didn't expect the horror element. But once it was hinted at, the rest of the story was way too predictable. And way too gory for my taste. At least I liked the ending. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, and Vomit

lanidon's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Spook factor: 3/5, predominantly gore, body horror, and emotional horror

I LOVED this. I'm shocked how much I loved this. I got so attached to the characters. The setting was very uniquely creepy without being over the top about it. The cover is gorgeous. Just *chef's kiss*

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Vomit