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mercourier's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a fun mystery game with some serious themes of child disappearence, hallucinations and abuse running beneath the surface of a mystery served with a side of romance. It was light reading despite the heavier themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Dysphoria
kadtide's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was an enchanting mystery about death, ghosts, and what a life after death can mean.
The characters themselves are individually wonderful, caringly developed into their own unique identities. Tuesday Mooney, the outside observer, a fully grown woman who specializes in cataloguing mental records of other people, none of whom she lets in, still holding on to the mysterious loss of a childhood friend. Dex Howard, former theater kid turned gay banker, who can't figure out what it is that he needs from other people because what he needs is to be himself. Dorry Bones, fourteen year old girl who lost her mom way too young, trying to find herself as all girls her age do, and reconcile it with her thoughts on death. And Archie, runaway rich kid who wants nothing more than to fix his family's dark violent past, but can't get past the role he himself played in it.
All of them caught up in a game by the delightfully eccentric billionaire who set all this in motion (with the help of his sharp and clever widow, her sweet and honest friend, and many others.
Moreso than the mystery- which at times was a bit jargon-heavy and hard to follow, I found myself caught up in the narrative of Tuesday herself. The game was explicitly not designed for her in particular- it was designed for Archie- but it was exactly what she needed in her life to get closure over Abby's disappearance, accept her death, and be able to let people into her world once again. Tuesday's intelligence, bluntness, and ability to see what can't always be seen by others give her a unique and interesting perspective on the world, and it is truly delightful to see that both from her inner perspective and through the eyes of Dex (who considers her a dear friend, weird and standoffish though she may be), Dorry (who idolizes her), and Archie (who loves her).
The characters and their growth were what made the story work for me. There was the occasional quote that was haunting in it's style and simplicity, but overall the prose left something to be desired.
I think it's wonderful that there are mysteries left unsolved- the game has a definitive end, and there are some answers laid out in detail, but others- like what ever did happen to Abby, or how exactly Archie got rid of Nat- are still open, and maybe will be forever. It is a nice commentary on the mysteries of death and ghosts and the afterlife, and how it works to reconcile the death of a loved one with your continued life.
The characters themselves are individually wonderful, caringly developed into their own unique identities. Tuesday Mooney, the outside observer, a fully grown woman who specializes in cataloguing mental records of other people, none of whom she lets in, still holding on to the mysterious loss of a childhood friend. Dex Howard, former theater kid turned gay banker, who can't figure out what it is that he needs from other people because what he needs is to be himself. Dorry Bones, fourteen year old girl who lost her mom way too young, trying to find herself as all girls her age do, and reconcile it with her thoughts on death. And Archie, runaway rich kid who wants nothing more than to fix his family's dark violent past, but can't get past the role he himself played in it.
All of them caught up in a game by the delightfully eccentric billionaire who set all this in motion (with the help of his sharp and clever widow, her sweet and honest friend, and many others.
Moreso than the mystery- which at times was a bit jargon-heavy and hard to follow, I found myself caught up in the narrative of Tuesday herself. The game was explicitly not designed for her in particular- it was designed for Archie- but it was exactly what she needed in her life to get closure over Abby's disappearance, accept her death, and be able to let people into her world once again. Tuesday's intelligence, bluntness, and ability to see what can't always be seen by others give her a unique and interesting perspective on the world, and it is truly delightful to see that both from her inner perspective and through the eyes of Dex (who considers her a dear friend, weird and standoffish though she may be), Dorry (who idolizes her), and Archie (who loves her).
The characters and their growth were what made the story work for me. There was the occasional quote that was haunting in it's style and simplicity, but overall the prose left something to be desired.
I think it's wonderful that there are mysteries left unsolved- the game has a definitive end, and there are some answers laid out in detail, but others- like what ever did happen to Abby, or how exactly Archie got rid of Nat- are still open, and maybe will be forever. It is a nice commentary on the mysteries of death and ghosts and the afterlife, and how it works to reconcile the death of a loved one with your continued life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Car accident, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
📚 This book is pitched as THE WESTING GAME for adults and it absolutely is. Twisty, clever, funny, and populated with wonderfully unique characters.
📚 Tuesday is fantastic. I love that she leads a full, fulfilling life and is openly happy being single and without children. Her love interest in this story is an intriguing side quest, not the main objective.
📚 This book is also a love letter to Boston, both its history and its modern incarnation.
📚 On top of the wild mystery, this book also gets deep into some serious topics, most of them centering around the costumes we wear to present ourselves to the world every day and how we can break free of them to be our authentic selves.
📚 It dragged a little in the middle, in particular a few chapters where it seemed unlikely that they could take this much time off from the game to deal with other plots and not be overtaken by other players.
📚 Tuesday is fantastic. I love that she leads a full, fulfilling life and is openly happy being single and without children. Her love interest in this story is an intriguing side quest, not the main objective.
📚 This book is also a love letter to Boston, both its history and its modern incarnation.
📚 On top of the wild mystery, this book also gets deep into some serious topics, most of them centering around the costumes we wear to present ourselves to the world every day and how we can break free of them to be our authentic selves.
📚 It dragged a little in the middle, in particular a few chapters where it seemed unlikely that they could take this much time off from the game to deal with other plots and not be overtaken by other players.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, and Violence
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