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oxfordcommas91's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
I’m genuinely sad about giving this book 3 stars, because I felt fairly certain it was going to be a 4 star read for me when I was about halfway through. This book had a lot of promise for me - lots of female main characters, interwoven stories, multiple art heists, WWII - all the right themes and ingredients were theoretically there. I was sucked in rather early on and was enjoying watching the story unfold.
Unfortunately the last 25 percent really crashed and burned in terms of my enjoyment. The characters became true caricatures in this last quarter. We had the naive but plucky protagonist and the cartoon psychopathic villain on a collision course. The antagonist was evil for no real reason and the depths of her depravity were confusing at times. And our heroine was one of the dumbest smart characters I’ve ever read. She was the cute blonde in the horror movie who decides to go down into the basement alone when she hears something go bump in the night.
The end only partially worked for me, though there are major plot points that are just left swirling around.
The goods - I was fairly hooked until I wasn’t, Ellis’ character arc (especially as relates to his grandson Adam), female representation in journalism.
Unfortunately the last 25 percent really crashed and burned in terms of my enjoyment. The characters became true caricatures in this last quarter. We had the naive but plucky protagonist and the cartoon psychopathic villain on a collision course. The antagonist was evil for no real reason and the depths of her depravity were confusing at times. And our heroine was one of the dumbest smart characters I’ve ever read. She was the cute blonde in the horror movie who decides to go down into the basement alone when she hears something go bump in the night.
The end only partially worked for me, though there are major plot points that are just left swirling around.
The goods - I was fairly hooked until I wasn’t, Ellis’ character arc (especially as relates to his grandson Adam), female representation in journalism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, and Drug use
Moderate: Cancer, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, and Medical content
Minor: Vomit and Grief
rubl_b's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I liked the story and plot, and I was hopeful to love the book. But something about it left me dissatisfied. I fee like the writing was trying to hard to be good and some points left me thinking “did that really just happen?” Slightly disappointed but good enough to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, War, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Antisemitism, Drug use, and Death
kates_books's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I don’t tend to read WW2 or historical fiction books, but I’m glad this was our book club pick. There was a lot going on in this book — perhaps too much. Here are my chaotic thoughts on it:
- I loved learning about the art world and the history of art theft during the war.
- I tend to love love stories in books, but I’m not sure if this story needed the plot line.
I really thought Dan, the renowned journalist that takes Jules under his wings, was going to make a reappearance — that he escape death yet again - There were so many characters and each had such a deep and complex background. They could have easily been written as unattainable, perfect people but the author added such deep, personal, complex flaws for each. Plus there was a great group of side characters that played such important roles: Owen, Jules mom, Louise, the hacker
Margaux being a psychopath was obvious and I can’t decide if I liked that revelation. In a way it’s a unique choice because most authors I read tend to create a background for the villains that lends at least some empathy and understanding to the characters horrendous actions. So Margaux being a psychopath just doesn’t add to the story. I thought we would come back somehow to Jules former editor and he would finally be held accountable for taking advantage of Jules as a minor. But I do think this element of her as a character made her more fully formed and believable. - Especially in the beginning of the book, the author took her time really getting into the details of everything. Perhaps taking too long at times. But then at the end it felt like it wrapped up so quickly.
Thoughts on the ending: Ellis losing his sight before seeing the recovered painting broke my heart. Are we not going to know what happens with Carrie and Adam being involved in Margauxs fathers death? Margaux blood seeping into the art was a terrible shock but i think it made the story more interesting — it wasn’t a perfect, obvious ending. Again, I don’t think Adam and Jules need to be together — also what is their age difference?? - The book opens with Jules perspective on a flash forward to a scene that we later revisit from Margauxs perspective. I feel like these perspectives don’t match. And that how Jules is portrayed in that scene in the opening is not how she was portrayed later on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Antisemitism
paytonreads's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I liked all the twists in the book and how it came together in the end. The end was slightly rushed for me but that is also the nature of the genre. Overall, a good read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Murder, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Violence, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
kimveach's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
I love it when historical fiction is the basis for a contemporary thriller.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Drug use, Genocide, Confinement, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual content, Stalking, War, Addiction, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
lit_with_lauren's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Murder
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