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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I absolutely LOVED this one!! I was captivated from the beginning until the very last page. I wasn’t very happy with the ending, but I think that’s the point the author is trying to make. The ending was, unfortunately, very accurate. Even with the unhappy ending, I still enjoyed this one. Such a pleasant surprise!
The core story of the book is good: a podcaster returns to her alma mater to teach a podcasting class. Her students decide to make a podcast about a murder at the school that occurred while she was a student. As they begin to delve into the details, the guilt of the incarcerated party comes into question, and the narrative begins to gain momentum. However, the author's choice to interweave an entirely distinct storyline depicting the narrator's turbulent present life poses a challenge. While some connections are forged between the narrator's current experiences and the main plot line, the additional storyline feels extraneous, causing confusion and frustration in parts of the book. My rating would have been four stars had the focus remained on the primary narrative, but the attempt to juggle multiple themes earns it three stars for stretching too thin.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this book. There are some interesting points for conversation about true crime and how it is covered in media. However and maybe this is the ironic concept of the book but it goes on pages long rants about the people lost to these crimes and proposes nothing to suggest different media portrayal and glosses over points and topics that should have been explored more. It was so frustrating and what is worse is the critiques seemed detached from the story line that it rips you out of the moment. The mc was a complex character which I think helped see her more as a real individual unfortunately it was just one that I did not like at all. At some points I found her endearing or had empathy where she was coming from but then it would promptly be ruined in the next paragraph.
On the other hand I think that this is a good thought provoking piece if it can’t have the conversation with you at least it can lead you to start to thinking more.
On the other hand I think that this is a good thought provoking piece if it can’t have the conversation with you at least it can lead you to start to thinking more.
If you love true crime podcasts, this one is for you! Bodie Kane, a fully grown adult, mother of two, and famous podcast co-host, can’t help but ruminate on her boarding school days. During her senior year, her former roommate, Thalia Keith, was found murdered in the school’s swimming pool. But did the right person go to jail for it?
This novel asks all the tough questions about our obsession with true crime and whether or not we’re consuming these stories ethically. At the same time, there’s a whole lot of faux forensics (true crime but fiction) happening while Bodie looks in to Thalia’s murder through adult eyes.
Powerful, well done, engaging, and challenging. This will be a top read for the year, I’m sure.
This novel asks all the tough questions about our obsession with true crime and whether or not we’re consuming these stories ethically. At the same time, there’s a whole lot of faux forensics (true crime but fiction) happening while Bodie looks in to Thalia’s murder through adult eyes.
Powerful, well done, engaging, and challenging. This will be a top read for the year, I’m sure.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
slow-paced
This book couldn’t have taken longer to get to the point. So unsatisfying.
3.5 stars. A pretty good mystery (thriller?). Second-person narratives always feel like a gimmick to me, and this one didn’t really pay off in a way that justified the format. But the story was decent, even if the author’s goals were loftier than warranted. A good read if you’re in the mood for a scooby-do whodunit, I think.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Excellent engaging mystery that's realistic