Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

65 reviews

sandysmith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records.  This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader.  Based in 1634 regarding a shops Voyage. A thriller of sorts, with devilish or supernatural symbols and a murder.  Arent Hayes is a body guard to a great detective Samuel Pepys kept under guard. It was a good read until the disappointing ending and it seemed to loose its way. It was a long book anyway but the ending seemed a completely different pace to the rest of the book. That said I really liked it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, Rape, and Death

Moderate: Animal death and War

chromiumboron's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

He kinda lost me in the last third, but overall I really enjoyed this book!! I've had a hard time reading lately, but these strong female characters had me tearing through this. Can't wait to read what Turton writes next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, War, Vomit, Violence, Excrement, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Rape

thebookkeepers's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

A closed door mystery aboard a ship traveling from Batavia to Amsterdam, this story will have you questioning who’s behind murders or if something paranormal is afoot. While I wasn’t overly endeared to any of the characters, I did enjoy seeing the multiple POVs and how intricate the character dynamics were. I did not guess any of the twists & was satisfied with the conclusion of our mystery. The format in which the unveiling of the secrets was a miss for me though. It felt like a recap of here’s how XYZ happened and was a little to “wrapped up” for me. My son (15) LOVED this though and I can see this being more Men-Lit (is that a thing? Haha opposite of chick lit). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Animal death

darthdevyn's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Way too long and contrived. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Sexism, and Domestic abuse

Not anywhere near as good as the authors previous book.

nuthatch428's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Colonisation, Blood, Gore, Murder, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Excrement, Vomit, Alcohol, Animal death, Infidelity, Rape, and Grief

Minor: Child death, Addiction, Torture, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Mental illness

filipacmiranda's review against another edition

4.5

Although I enjoyed The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I always felt that the parallel realities (not appropriately explained) made for a somewhat confusing reading experience. In this book, this is not the case. The plot is always straightforward, making it significantly more enjoyable.

I cannot guarantee that this is the most historically accurate book or that the characters are accuratety represent 18th century society. However, the former fulfilled its purpose, and the latter are quite interesting!

Because of my tendency to solve mysteries/crimes before the end of books, I'm a bit sceptical about this literary genre. Even so, I was happily surprised on the identity of the criminal(s). I wonder if we will ever have the opportunity to read about the misadventures that would have arisen after the end of this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape

Minor: Excrement

dustspectre's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

thequeenofsheba3's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

heini's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Sexual violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal cruelty, Excrement, Rape, War, and Religious bigotry

singalana's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Kirjan luettuani minulle jäi hieman kaksijakoiset fiilikset, vaikka kokemus jäi selvästi plussan puolelle. Kirjan genreä on hieman vaikea kuvailla: kirjan tapahtumat sijoittuvat 1600-luvulle, ja siinä on murhamysteerin ja jopa kauhun elementtejä. Kirjassa seuraamme enimmäkseen Arent-nimistä miestä, joka astuu laivaan suojellakseen ystäväänsä, jota ollaan kuljettamassa Amsterdamiin tuomittavaksi. Toinen päähenkilöistä on kenraalikuvernöörin vaimo Sara. Henkilöhahmoja on paljon, mutta heillä on mielenkiintoiset persoonallisuudet ja motiivit. 

Kirjassa seurataan seitsemän laivan saattuetta, joka lähtee Bataviasta kohti Amsterdamia mukanaan maustelasti. Pian alkaa tapahtua pelottavia asioita, ja herää epäilys siitä seilaako paholainen heidän mukanaan? 

Kirja piti hyvin otteessaan alusta loppuun saakka. Pidin kirjoitustyylistä, ja lyhyet luvut koukuttivat lukemaan aina seuraavan. Myös henkilöhahmot olivat mielenkiintoisia, ja heistä paljastui koko ajan lisää. Kirja oli jännittävä, eikä loppuratkaisua ole helppo arvata. 

Spoilereita! 
Loppuratkaisusta puheen ollen, Drechtin miesten suunnitelmat kirjan lopussa olivat vastenmielisiä, ja mietin olisiko ollut parempi jättää se kohta lukijan mielikuvituksen varaan. Koska kirjassa on leikitelty yliluonnollisen mahdollisuudella, loppuratkaisu tuntuu lässähtää hieman. Lisäksi syyllisen paljastuttua hahmojen tulevaisuudensuunnitelmat tuntuvat ehkä hieman liiankin näppärältä.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Blood

Minor: Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Rape, Confinement, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Excrement, Murder, Child death, Cursing, and Death of parent