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monicaa_d's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
I can't remember how this got onto my TBR, but have been trying to read some of the books that have been on there for longer, so I borrowed this when I saw it. I didn't remember what I'd heard about it and just knew it was some sort of mystery involving a missing kid. This was probably the most disturbing book I've read- horror and thriller can do their best, but nothing is as gut-wrenching as the elements of this story that could have been pulled from a news article.
The main story was engaging, twisty, and heartbreaking, but the section around the 3/4 mark involving the missing boy and the torture that he was subjected to was the most horrible thing I could imagine reading. I know this was a catalyst and important to the plot, and that it was probably important to the author to reflect a reality that's hard to think about, but it was so hard to get through due to the nature of it. Overall, I think the author did a good job of balancing mystery, action, and well-rounded characters (I know this is part of a series following the PIs, but having never read any of the other books I still felt like they were three-dimensional) and managed not to shy away from the horrors of humanity while still offering an almost satisfying, if bittersweet, conclusion.
The main story was engaging, twisty, and heartbreaking, but
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Murder, Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Abandonment, Grief, Trafficking, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Rape
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