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dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Vomit, Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Toxic friendship
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a great read! I finished it in about 1-2 weeks which is nice, knowing I can still do that. A great book to get back into reading with. I also usually don't venture into mystery/thriller so this was a really cool experience. I think that in the future I would not shy away from exploring more books of this genre. I did not expect the ending so it was a real surprise for me, and I also really liked the multiple perspective story telling. Darcy's character is insane, and it would be really interesting to dive further into the psyche of a sociopathic serial killer, I felt like it was glossed over in the end just to say it was mentioned, but to be fair I also can see how that would be a whole other book in itself. I do feel like some parts were slightly cliche which is inevitable, but the author writes well so it doesn't annoy you. Rob was soooo cringe but also I guess that's the reality of evil abusive men. I'm so glad he died. The author was really creative with the turn of events and small details, however I do think the entire thing is basically just a horror story about the dangers of AI. Which is also so valid. Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed this experience! Often found myself staying up late to cram some pages, which is how you know a book has been a worthy experience. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder
dark
slow-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
Very (only) okay. My enjoyment of this book definitely suffered from my reading it right after The Chain by Adrian McKinty, which I thought was just so thrilling and weird and surprising and brilliant. This is NOT that; it’s not any of those things. The writing is basic and ordinary, the character growth or development nonexistent, et al. I think the most egregious is that there’s no point of view, no POINT, about why this story even exists or what a thriller is there to do — somehow it’s just gory to be gory, and the people are just gross and awful bc they’re gross and awful. And I guess I feel that even in genre fiction there should be some kind of point or perspective or any attempt at making something interesting and not totally formulaic and blasé. But this doesn’t. As I write I realize I need to switch this star rating from a 3 to a 2, haha. It’s okay — I finished it, it didn’t like mortally offend me. But it is totally unremarkable in every way and I will forget every detail in the next 48 hours, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Murder
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: 🇲🇻 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.
🐕 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.
🐕 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.
🤓 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.
🗺️ World-Building: A little under described. Not very immersive or atmospheric but detailed enough to imagine.
🔥 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?
📖 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.
📚 Format: Everand Audio (<30%). Library Hardback (>30%).
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Blood, Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Pedophilia
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I received this book as an ARC from netgally. Initially I was a tad confused what was going on but then got wrapped up in what was going on and who was doing what. For the first solid half I was convinced I know who the killer was but nope! It was a plot twist. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I absolutely LOVE murder mystery books and can’t wait to see more books from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting