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dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Minor: Rape
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A pacy and twisty thriller perfect for crime fans. I was gripped by No-one Saw A Thing over Christmas 2024 so immediately reserved other Andrea Mara books at the library. I love the complexity and sheer amount of clever misdirection that kept me guessing - something hard to do when you read a lot of crime thrillers! I was immediately drawn in and polished off Someone In The Attic in two sittings. Perfect easy-reading for thriller fans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Stalking
Moderate: Mental illness, Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, Stalking, Murder
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was looking for a fast read and picked up this thriller with a lovely creepy premise. I almost forgot that creepy still needs storyline and captivating characters and neither were the strengths of this one. Characters were unlikeable in cliche ways and although Julia is creeped out herself she dismisses her children’s worries continuously; and amidst all weirdness, she doesn’t worry for a second when things aren’t as she left them or when unknown apps are installed on her phone.
The writing style wasn’t my fave either; the author uses the main character to tell you what to pay attention to, rather than writing it in such a way you get a chance to discover things yourself (all false alarms anyway ). For example, especially early on, Julia gets bad feelings about tiny details about which there isn’t anything weird in the moment, but it is supposed to help the reader realise it’s a relevant detail. A clumsy storytelling device I didn’t love; same for the ending chapters on a hyperbolic cliffhanger (Julia’s blood running cold again at a realisation or something similar).
In the end a lot was going on, i.e. a few too many distractions for me(coincidences are not cleverly tied into the main event in this one, but added up to weird subplots). Fast read indeed, but not one that’s going to stay on my mind.
In the end a lot was going on, i.e. a few too many distractions for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Vomit, Suicide attempt
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went into this book with very little knowledge of the plot, and if I'm honest, I was expecting something with more of a paranormal theme. Having said that, I absolutely loved it for the ensemble thriller it was, and I would love to see it adapted for a film at some point. It kept me guessing from start to finish and I was definitely surprised by many of the twists. I am fairly certain this will end up in my list of favorites at the end of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Someone please re-do this without diluting it so terribly. I loved the concept and the writing style, but the choice to overlook a gigantic gaping super obvious plothole (how did no one catch or mention this before pub?!?!) had me turning off an entire section of my brain just to get through this.
Energy: Passive. Dismissive. Hasty.
🐺 Growls
Annoying character contradictions - the main character was blasé about everything even when terrifying…yet we are to believe they are invested in their family and protecting them. To sum this up without spoilers would be “~MC comes face to face with a monster and responds with ‘Darn punk kids and their makeups”~.
🐕 Howls
I love a good fake vid/Ai plot, but in this case, it didn’t even make sense. Missed opportunity to add a camera to their home and have extra spooks because of the complexities of ‘bird nesting’ custody arrangement/internet issues/batteries/typical cam probs (instead of ignoring the existence of cameras while pointing out the existence of cameras).
🐩 Tail Wags
Examining the complicated feelings around a victim who didn’t ‘light up the room’. Expressive, easy to listen audio narration and accents (to my ears). Lisa Jewell-ish writing style with rich backdrop, situations, and characters (if only it didn’t screw up the phrogging and tech).
Scene: 🇮🇪 Set in a gated community near Dublin, Ireland
Perspective: A person with narcissistic tendencies is killed in their home while relaxing. Their friend who has recently moved their entire family back to their hometown in Ireland after selling their American company.
Timeline: Now (2020s). Then (1990s?).
🔥 Fuel: Scary dilemmas. Escalating stakes. Twists and turns. Who is the killer? Who is posting the videos? Why are they doing this?
📖 Cred: Suspend all disbelief
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Airpods. Among Us. Barbeques. Bunk bed. Security gate. Tiktok. Phrogging vids.
· Phrogging plots
· Psychological suspense
· Kid says creepy things
· Knowing more than/having to be smarter than the main character
· Realistic amateur sleuthing friend group
· Rapid conclusions wrap-up
· Letting the wrong person in
· Gated neighbourhood mystery
· Overhearing character thoughts via third person narration/fly on the wall feels
· Immersive and descriptive world building
· Character driven stories and family studies
Content Heads-Up: Infidelity. Alcohol (casual, intoxication). Murder. Divorce (sharing custody, sharing homes). Narcissism. Drugging. Bullying. Sexual assault (accusation). Body shaming (fatphobia, freckles, teeth). Voyeurism, invasion of privacy. Stalking. Lying. Blackmailing. Loss of employment.
Rep: Irish. Persian ancestry. Cis. Hetero. Pale, flush, freckled, tanned, and ambiguous skin tones. Queer.
📚 Format: Library Audio
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Stalking, Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Alcohol