Scan barcode
tatterededges's review against another edition
3.0
What’s that Lassie? There’s VHS tape of the murder kept in a bag in the freezer for 20+ years that plays perfectly fine with absolutely no degradation at all? And the killer just happens to have a working VHS hooked up and ready to use nearby? Phew, that’s lucky.
da403's review against another edition
3.0
It was a bit slow to start but the second half was better.
sunflower7skull's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I thought it was great! It was a bit hard to get into at first for me, but overall I found it a very compelling mystery that wrapped up nicely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Body horror, Car accident, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gore
katykat_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
alyceea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I picked DARK AUGUST up on a whim at my library without ever having heard of it before. I'm not sure how I missed hearing about this debut because it is right up my alley! I love books about mysterious little towns holding dark secrets. Elgin, Ontario, Canada (at least the fictional version), certainly qualifies.
DARK AUGUST is a riveting read featuring an atmospheric setting, complex characters, and an absorbing plot. Gus is a sympathetic heroine who's tough, determined, and brave, but not invincible. She makes mistakes in her amateur investigation, all of which serve to make her more authentic and relatable. Her furry sidekick, Levi, is just as appealing. While this thriller is certainly character-driven, it's not lacking in action. The plot is carefully crafted to be suspenseful, surprising, and exciting. I saw a couple of the twists coming, but not all of them by any means. DARK AUGUST kept me guessing all the way to the end. Although it's over 400 pages long, I buzzed through this novel in a day and a half because I couldn't put it down. It's that immersive. While DARK AUGUST definitely deals with some depressing, disturbing content, overall I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be on the lookout for whatever Katie Tallo writes next.
DARK AUGUST is a riveting read featuring an atmospheric setting, complex characters, and an absorbing plot. Gus is a sympathetic heroine who's tough, determined, and brave, but not invincible. She makes mistakes in her amateur investigation, all of which serve to make her more authentic and relatable. Her furry sidekick, Levi, is just as appealing. While this thriller is certainly character-driven, it's not lacking in action. The plot is carefully crafted to be suspenseful, surprising, and exciting. I saw a couple of the twists coming, but not all of them by any means. DARK AUGUST kept me guessing all the way to the end. Although it's over 400 pages long, I buzzed through this novel in a day and a half because I couldn't put it down. It's that immersive. While DARK AUGUST definitely deals with some depressing, disturbing content, overall I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be on the lookout for whatever Katie Tallo writes next.
bridget_h's review against another edition
3.0
A very strong debut - 3.5 stars! When I first started this book, I thought..hmm..this feels dull and dusty. But by 30 or so pages in, I was full immersed into Gus's world. This book wasn't "action packed" but the the characters were so vivid and the story/mystery unfolded in such a steady manner. Each chapter revealed something new and I just wanted to keep reading.