Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

6 reviews

geckotigerwolf's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
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drpthy's review against another edition

3.0
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
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twinkletoes422's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
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readingonthefly's profile picture

readingonthefly's review against another edition

3.5
adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Liked it! Started it at the beach and then other things excited me more so put it on pause. Just finished up today. Loved the setting, but check the content warnings πŸ˜… Definitely was easily able to guess what was going to happen but I still enjoyed the ride.
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minimicropup's profile picture

minimicropup's review against another edition

3.0
adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
I like the premise. I just wish it was executed differently, because I almost gave up in the middle and felt a little tricked by the end (and not in that fun, shocking thriller way). 
 
Energy: Accusatory. Messy. Suffusive. 
Scene: πŸ‡²πŸ‡» Mainly set at the fictional Sapphire Island Beach Resort, Republic of the Maldives.
Perspective (6): A recently divorced parent of three boys. Their spouse who runs a software company. Their 12-year-old child who has suddenly become withdrawn and angry. A Pilates instructor excited for a holiday. A ghostwriter reluctantly on holiday. A newlywed on their honeymoon. 
Timelines: Starts off with a snippet of a 2001 event. The rest of book takes place in 2023 and in the six months leading up to the trip.
 
🐺 Growls: Overly simplistic delivery of plot and character reveals. Narrative tricks (aka lies to!) the reader. 
πŸ• Howls: Shift from a slow-paced contemporary fiction friendship study for most of the book to a sudden fast paced gore-filled popcorn thriller at the end. Character dialogue sounded too similar. When suspense was created by characters refusing to communicate. 
🐩 Tail Wags: The idea. The big bad. 
 
πŸ€“ Reader Role: Observer from the sidelines. Starting with our narrator telling us about characters and their thoughts. As the story progresses, we are more distant an observer and know less about what the characters are thinking.   
πŸ—ΊοΈ World-Building: A little under described. Not very immersive or atmospheric but detailed enough to imagine. 
πŸ”₯ Fuel: Withholding, escalating stakes, and layered secrets. Why is this unlikely trio vacationing together? Why is Charlie so angry with his mother? How will the newlywed handle the changes in her relationship? Who can they believe? Is there a killer on the island? Was justice served in the tragedy that bound them together? 
πŸ“– Cred: Suspended disbelief, over-the-top
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Cerulean waters. Palm trees. Bats overhead. White tunics. Tropical heat. Champagne. Beach huts. Candles in glass jars. Shimmering stars. Light jazz. Straw roof. Artificial intelligence. Blood. 
  • Straightforward writing style with short chapters
  • Slow burn friendship study
  • High stakes fight-for-their-life popcorn thriller endings
  • Hidden motives
  • Older female Besties (40s, 50s)
  • Psychological duels vacation suspense
  • Double crossing 
  • Mix of insufferable, villainous, and altruistic characters
  • Relationship and friendship drama
  • Solved or unsolved serial killer case
  • Who to Trust, how-well-can-you-know-someone?
  • Gruesome murders
  • Discussions around morality, vengeance, and anger
  • Sprinkling of techno thriller
 
Content Heads-Up: Mass murder. Blood. Divorce. Abusive relationship (jealous, controlling, violent, gaslighting, pressure to reproduce). Panic attack, PTSD. Misogyny. Alcohol (partying, social). Cancer (brief mention). 9/11 (brief mention). Pedophilia, grooming, adult/minor relationship (off page/brief mention). Child abuse (emotional). Animal cruelty (rodents, birds). Psychopathy/personality disorder. Body horror, gore, vomit, blood.
 
Rep: British, Filipino-British. Catalan. Cisgender. Heterosexual. Lesbian. Olive, pale, and tanned skin tones. 
 
πŸ“š Format: Everand Audio (<30%). Library Hardback (>30%).
 
My musings πŸ’– powered by puppy snuggles 🐢
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dblue236's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
If I'm being honest, three and a half stars might be a more accurate rating, but I decided to bump it up a bit because while it wasn't terribly unique, it was a lot of fun. I don't know that I'd be able to define any big standouts about the story a year from now, but I enjoyed it in the moment and sometimes that's all I need out of an ensemble murder mystery. It definitely didn't move any mountains or leave a lasting impression, but it was fun while it lasted and it held my interest. 
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