Scan barcode
mohekki's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
akagle's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted this book to give me more than it did… I feel like books with multiple narrators can be done well, but it just was not in this case. It almost felt like the characters weren’t having the opportunity to be developed because it kept cutting to a different person each chapter. Also the big reveal of the killer.. meh, I saw it coming. A little bit of a snooze fest in my opinion…
bookishbree36's review against another edition
3.0
I love a good whodunnit mystery so this one definitely checked all my boxes! Twisty and turny and I never guessed the ending! Overall a very good mystery!
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon books for the opportunity to read this one early in exchange for an honest review!
3/5 stars from me, Bookish Bree
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon books for the opportunity to read this one early in exchange for an honest review!
3/5 stars from me, Bookish Bree
shelitelschow's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this, but ending was a little disappointing
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
I'm so torn on this one! On one hand, I thought this was going to be a unputdownable thriller that would keep me on the edge of my seat. Instead, this is definitely more of a character study. And there are a lot of characters! Sure, it surrounds a crime and all the players connected to it in someway, but the mystery of who done it seemed lost in the character drama.
A few kids have a small party at a house in a small town (I assume it's small, the characers were so intertwined) and something happens. The next day, accusations are flying and in comes the adults. You have the POV of one wife, another wife, a witness, a mother. And these stories overlap in ways that aren't obvious at first. Slowly, you learn how they all interact and the different ways they will seek the truth. It was heartbreaking, at times, as you learned what each of them is hiding - because no one is telling the truth.
I think my favorite character was the attorney. He gave it straight and felt so realistic. And his fees!? WOW! Otherwise, I did like how this all played out but I wasn't prepared for it to feel as slow as it did.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A few kids have a small party at a house in a small town (I assume it's small, the characers were so intertwined) and something happens. The next day, accusations are flying and in comes the adults. You have the POV of one wife, another wife, a witness, a mother. And these stories overlap in ways that aren't obvious at first. Slowly, you learn how they all interact and the different ways they will seek the truth. It was heartbreaking, at times, as you learned what each of them is hiding - because no one is telling the truth.
I think my favorite character was the attorney. He gave it straight and felt so realistic. And his fees!? WOW! Otherwise, I did like how this all played out but I wasn't prepared for it to feel as slow as it did.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
ashleysue75's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the idea of this novel more than the execution. A story about small town secrets, characters who make questionable decisions, families with checkered histories…all components for a great read, but I felt it didn’t quite live up to its potential.
While the plot kept my interest, I found it difficult to connect with the characters. They were all flawed in a very human way, but their redeeming personality traits were not presented in a way that balanced out their negative ones.
The structure caused me to lose interest as well. While an alternating POV can be used to great effect when revealing different perspectives of the same situation, here it felt a bit redundant.
I also found the death of a main character about 2/3 of the way into the book to be a bit too convenient. I felt the author just wasn’t sure how to tidily wrap up this person’s storyline and found this was the easiest way to do so.
There were multiple important, relevant issues that were brought up in this storyline, but none were explored sufficiently to really alter the reader’s viewpoint.
My biggest problem with this novel, however, was that a character who was presented as someone to root for turned out to have committed a horrific act that was pathetically excused by some twisted form of peer pressure. Anyone who can pull a Brock Turner doesn’t deserve our empathy or a sympathetic spin.
There was much to keep the reader engaged in this novel, but I ultimately encountered too many issues to recommend it as a must-read.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for m honest feedback.
While the plot kept my interest, I found it difficult to connect with the characters. They were all flawed in a very human way, but their redeeming personality traits were not presented in a way that balanced out their negative ones.
The structure caused me to lose interest as well. While an alternating POV can be used to great effect when revealing different perspectives of the same situation, here it felt a bit redundant.
I also found the death of a main character about 2/3 of the way into the book to be a bit too convenient. I felt the author just wasn’t sure how to tidily wrap up this person’s storyline and found this was the easiest way to do so.
There were multiple important, relevant issues that were brought up in this storyline, but none were explored sufficiently to really alter the reader’s viewpoint.
My biggest problem with this novel, however, was that a character who was presented as someone to root for turned out to have committed a horrific act that was pathetically excused by some twisted form of peer pressure. Anyone who can pull a Brock Turner doesn’t deserve our empathy or a sympathetic spin.
There was much to keep the reader engaged in this novel, but I ultimately encountered too many issues to recommend it as a must-read.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for m honest feedback.
nsa101's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly had to sit with this book for a minute to collect my thoughts. At it's core, this is a slow burn, character driven novel about the lengths people will go to support and protect the ones they love. From the synopsis, I was definitely pulled in by the murder mystery aspect and while that was the premise of the book, this was more of a character study I would’ve liked more character development early on as there were a lot of characters to keep track of.
When I got to the middle, especially the 2nd half, the pacing sped up and I was invested to know how this story would end. I listened to the audiobook thanks to @macmillan.audio, which I enjoyed, especially due to the multiple POVs. It was interesting that we see the story through the parents’ eyes and not the teens themselves.
Overall if you like a slow burn mystery this would be a good one to pick up!
When I got to the middle, especially the 2nd half, the pacing sped up and I was invested to know how this story would end. I listened to the audiobook thanks to @macmillan.audio, which I enjoyed, especially due to the multiple POVs. It was interesting that we see the story through the parents’ eyes and not the teens themselves.
Overall if you like a slow burn mystery this would be a good one to pick up!
nsa101's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly had to sit with this book for a minute to collect my thoughts.
The story revolves around the murder of Eden, a teenaged girl, whose body was found the morning after her death in her home in an affluent area. Three families are now reeling as their children were the last to see her alive and they all clearly know more than they are willing to say. As the police start circling, secrets are revealed and the lives of these teens will never be the same.
This slow burn, character driven novel about the lengths people will go to support and protect the ones they love. Told from multiple POV's, Amidon uses the parent's and a few connected towns people to tell the story. Since the story centered around the teens, I think it would have added more to the story to get their point of view as we didn't really get to understand them or their motivations.
I struggled with the slow pace in the first half of the book. As we moved along though I became invested and wanted to know how this story would end.
While I think that it is beautifully written, I struggled with the slow pace in the first half of the book. As we moved along though I became invested and wanted to know how this story would end.
There are a lot of characters and storylines to keep track of and at times it is hard to know who or what was of importance.
This one is more domestic mystery than thriller. I recommend if you enjoy books that focus on relationships and examination of class. I liked it but wanted more suspense around solving the murder.
The story revolves around the murder of Eden, a teenaged girl, whose body was found the morning after her death in her home in an affluent area. Three families are now reeling as their children were the last to see her alive and they all clearly know more than they are willing to say. As the police start circling, secrets are revealed and the lives of these teens will never be the same.
This slow burn, character driven novel about the lengths people will go to support and protect the ones they love. Told from multiple POV's, Amidon uses the parent's and a few connected towns people to tell the story. Since the story centered around the teens, I think it would have added more to the story to get their point of view as we didn't really get to understand them or their motivations.
I struggled with the slow pace in the first half of the book. As we moved along though I became invested and wanted to know how this story would end.
While I think that it is beautifully written, I struggled with the slow pace in the first half of the book. As we moved along though I became invested and wanted to know how this story would end.
There are a lot of characters and storylines to keep track of and at times it is hard to know who or what was of importance.
This one is more domestic mystery than thriller. I recommend if you enjoy books that focus on relationships and examination of class. I liked it but wanted more suspense around solving the murder.
luckycharmedlovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I was super into the synopsis and thought the book started well, but it just was not for me. I thought all of the drama and intrigue surrounding the “who-dunnit” was a little too detailed and a little too much. I would say this is more domestic drama than edge of my seat thriller, though I can see why other readers loved it so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.