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sagesanctum's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is my first real venture into the horror/thriller genre; typically I'm more of a "only books with a guaranteed happy ending" type of reader. I read to improve my mood, so I usually don't try anything I think might be too depressing. Despite this, I joined the local book club in an effort to broaden my horizons, and All the Dangerous Things was the book chosen.
Right out the gate, I wasn't thrilled to be reading this one. I'm a parent to young children and I DO NOT enjoy reading literally anything involving even the possibility of child harm or death, so the idea of reading a book about a missing child truly did not appeal to me. And honestly, for a good... half? three-quarters of the way through the book? Still wasn't vibing with it. Most of the characters are unlikable. Isabelle herself, despite being a sympathetic character because of her circumstances, quickly and progressively becomes less likable through the story. Other characters--either through their own behavior or simply because we're learning about them through Isabelle's lens--are also unpleasant for different reasons. Some things that happen in the book? Not my cup of tea.
However, I did like the writing style. Some people complained about the sprawling descriptions and metaphoric language, but I really liked it. I feel like it fits Isabelle's character, given her career choice. I do agree the pacing could use some more progressive ramp-up, since I think I didn't really start feeling much tension until maybe 200+ pages in? Which I suspect is a bit slow for a thriller. That being said, the twist was spectacular and the ending was both unexpected and satisfying.
Thus, I am giving it 3.75 stars. It's solidly written, the conclusion makes the story worth a try if you can tolerate the initially-slow buildup, but I don't think I'd read it more than one time.
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Drug abuse
Minor: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Infertility, Vomit, and Kidnapping
lrecord's review
- 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
4.25
I really love how the author wrote her characters as women who made good choices, bad choices and everything in-between. There is so much nuance to the characters and why they do the things they do.
There were definitely twists and turns.
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Violence, Infertility, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
cursed_sapphire's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I won't say this is the most groundbreaking thriller with the most unique plot, most amazing characters, or the most fascinating twists. But I will say this book is thriller done right.
It probably helped that the main character's sleep deprivation and clearly-defined childhood traumas helped explain away some of the conclusion-jumping and bad decisions that I've come to learn are synonymous with modern thrillers. Where in most books I find that kind of thing infuriating and poorly-handled, here it made perfect sense for our protagonist, who hasn't had a full night's rest in a year.
This book also handled it's themes better than most thrillers I've read. While all the characters are hiding secrets, I didn't leave the novel despising everyone like I have with some other thrillers. This book also refreshingly had a well-written, non-horrible male character
So if you're looking for a solid thriller read, even if you're as tired as mediocre ones as I am, I still say give this one a try. It's not a perfect novel-the middle drags a bit and there are some characters that aren't as well defined as others, among a few other nitpicks- but it's overall a compelling, entertaining time.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Child death, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Pregnancy
aharrison_33's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Miscarriage
kristihiggi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping and Child death
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Emotional abuse
angelamonahan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hmstumfoll's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Kidnapping, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicide, Death, Mental illness, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
clo_l's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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 respect it for the fact that I am a mother to a baby, who struggles with postpartum depression & strongly feels that postpartum mental health should be talked about it more. I appreciate the struggles of motherhood being talking about, seen from both the viewpoints of Izzy & her mother.
This book was slow. So incredibly slow. I wanted to give up so many times. It felt boring, all these details and flashbacks and info that just drug on & on & on. It didn’t start getting good until the last like 70 pages? If it wasn’t for the sheer fact that I needed to know what happened to her son and that I hate not finishing books, I wouldn’t stopped reading like halfway through.
I’m used to books taking the first half slow, to build up and the last half getting intense but I feel like this book never truly reached that part. I didn’t predict what happened, which is good but it still didn’t have that shock effect.
Idk. I really really really wanted to love this book. To love Izzy. To connect deeper. But I just didn’t.
Graphic: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Vomit, and Suicide
Includes mention of a stillbirth.feralbookwife's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Vomit, Blood, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Murder, Trafficking, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
annie_burns's review
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis