Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

8 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness

lauraw83's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Gaslighting

gwenswoons's review against another edition

2.0

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

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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.

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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

chaptersofchase's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Thank you, Avid Reader Press, for the gifted copy of Bad Tourists by Caro Carver {partner} 

 

Genre: Mystery 

Format: 🎧📖 

Pub Date:  7.9.2024 

Pages: 336 

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 

 

“How difficult it can be to tell innocent and villain apart.” 

 

I decided to sample a few chapters of Bad Tourists because I was in the mood for a mystery, and the beautiful cover drew me right in. Before I knew it, I was 100 pages in and completely hooked on this propulsive vacation thriller. There seemed to be a lot going on between the characters (past and present), and I was worried that it wouldn’t come together in the end, but it came together perfectly (minus a few over-the-top moments), and I was so surprised by a few of the twists at the end. Usually, I can spot a twist from the beginning, but Bad Tourists kept me guessing until the end. 

 

 

Read if you enjoy: 

🤔 Locked room mystery 

🏝️ Vacation thrillers 

🤯 Twists you don’t see coming 

🗣️ Alternating POVs 

 

I recommend reading Bad Tourists if you’re in the mood for an eccentric, fast-paced mystery. 

 

 

_

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting

Child Neglect

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Gore, Miscarriage, Rape, Blood, Gaslighting

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

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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. 

 

🤓 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 🐶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Blood, Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Pedophilia

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

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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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol

riversbookshelfs's review against another edition

4.0

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

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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.

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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