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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
I had to read it as fast as I could! Kids missing on family vacation to Cental America—mom not paying attention? I was hooked all the way through. If you need a tense quick read, this book is for you!
:/ I'm very disappointed in this book. I actually wanted to read this book due to RAVE reviews it got on the Today Show.............I was disappointed within the first few pages but kept reading thinking that it would get better. The writing was very simplistic.....seemed almost juvenile. The writer had some good lines that popped up occasionally, but didn't really fit within the context---it was almost like she had these good lines that she had heard/read before/thought of & wrote down on sticky notes & then she was trying to figure out how to use them in her book. I was tempted many times to abandon the book, but felt compelled to finish it because: 1)that seems almost sinful to me (to give up on a book) and, 2)I felt I owed it to the reviewers that LOVED the book to actually finish it..............I thought maybe there'd be a powerful ending. There wasn't.
I. Am. So. Bummed.
I. Am. So. Bummed.
This book held my attention primarily because of the fast pace and interesting plot. The writing was basic and sort of elementary and the character development was weak. I didn't particularly like or dislike any of the characters--I just felt that I didn't know enough about them to be sympathetic! My lack of sympathy seems odd, considering that the conflict in the story is that during a cruise, two couple's children disappear! That should evoke sympathy on anyone's part!
The ending sort of left me hanging--what happened with Oscar and Maria--how did Hector die--and did the lie about who murdered Chuy ever get resolved.
I notice that this author has written young adult books. Perhaps she does a better job on those.
The ending sort of left me hanging--what happened with Oscar and Maria--how did Hector die--and did the lie about who murdered Chuy ever get resolved.
I notice that this author has written young adult books. Perhaps she does a better job on those.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I read a handful of "thrillers" each year. It's not my favorite genre, to be honest, but often these books catch my eye because I'm interested in reading something more plot-heavy and therefore more of a quick-read/page-turner. Sigh -- a lot of times I'm disappointed.
I heard about this book on NPR, I think, and that might be why I had higher hopes for some real substance. I think I was expecting to feel like I did after State of Wonder or The Poisonwood Bible. Those books left me unsettled in a "the author's masterful storytelling leaves the American/white/upper middle class reader uncomfortable about global inequality and cultural insensitivity." This one was more like "the author left some gaping holes in the character development and story lines that had nothing to do with any potential deeper themes." It was frustrating. I think there was so much opportunity to write something more substantive.
I heard about this book on NPR, I think, and that might be why I had higher hopes for some real substance. I think I was expecting to feel like I did after State of Wonder or The Poisonwood Bible. Those books left me unsettled in a "the author's masterful storytelling leaves the American/white/upper middle class reader uncomfortable about global inequality and cultural insensitivity." This one was more like "the author left some gaping holes in the character development and story lines that had nothing to do with any potential deeper themes." It was frustrating. I think there was so much opportunity to write something more substantive.
Read it in one day because I needed to know what happened. Got very little out of it and was dissatisfied after. Very weak characterization.
Started out interesting but slowed down a lot
why does this have such a low community score?? i loved it!
It was ok. Entertaining. Gone-girlish but not nearly as good.
I should have read this book's description MUCH more carefully. I don't know what I read in the review that motivated me to add it to my list, because I make a point of avoiding stories in which children are in danger or come to harm. (I am a worrier and am only now recovering a bit now that my children are both grown.) Anyway, I read it. Meloy is a finely skilled writer, with a gift for relationships, realistic dialog, and a sense of place. If you are a hardier soul than me and don't mind some serious misfortune, then add this to your list. If you listen to it on Audible, the author reads it herself.