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emswantree's review against another edition
4.0
This book was not what I thought it would be so in the middle I got a little frustrated. But then I adjusted my expectations and I really ended up liking this book which is weird to say. To explain I think this book was marketed as a thriller/ who done it but this book is more of a journey. Mainly focusing on a woman whose sister disappeared years before and how that loss has been the defining and shaping force in her life. The rest is her taking a road trip with the old guy that she thinks killed her sister. There are answers in this book but really the answers end up not being the most important part. Instead the book really looks at how grief and wanting truth or justice can consume us to the point where we will break ourselves.
The relationships in this book are unique and interesting and the writer is extremely insightful. And I loved the animals ♥️
The relationships in this book are unique and interesting and the writer is extremely insightful. And I loved the animals ♥️
sus7's review against another edition
4.0
A death wish or a brave wish? Sometimes I didn't know which of these two characters was crazier.
Complex characters, roller coaster plot and very satisfactory ending.
I thought this book was very well written and look forward to reading more by this author.
Complex characters, roller coaster plot and very satisfactory ending.
I thought this book was very well written and look forward to reading more by this author.
lomccormick's review against another edition
200 pages in and the story hasn't really gotten anywhere. The writing just isn't for me, I couldn't get into the story I didn't feel like I was there with the characters and none of them were likeable in any way. I wasn't rooting for the main character to find out about her sister, she just didn't seem like she was genuinely interested in finding out herself she seemed so bored throughout the story.
readinggrrl's review against another edition
4.0
This book was creepy almost from the beginning. A young woman has spent her life researching who killed her sister. She believes it's Carl, but Carl has no memory of it and since he has dementia its a distinct possibility that he will never remember. Thinking if she takes him to the location of some of the other women she thinks he killed will jog his memory she decides to claim to be his long lost daughter and take Carl on a road trip.
Julia Heaberlin hits this one out of the park. I was riveted by the road trip, the creepy photographs and the young women's drive to find her sisters body. I did not see the ending coming and was pleasantly surprised by it. The whole book was well done and wasn't your typical serial killer read. The fact that this young woman puts her life in her hands to discover the truth on the often times hilarious, sometimes scary and always suspenseful road trip from hell.
Julia Heaberlin hits this one out of the park. I was riveted by the road trip, the creepy photographs and the young women's drive to find her sisters body. I did not see the ending coming and was pleasantly surprised by it. The whole book was well done and wasn't your typical serial killer read. The fact that this young woman puts her life in her hands to discover the truth on the often times hilarious, sometimes scary and always suspenseful road trip from hell.
savvy_b's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
The storyline was excellent, but I found some of the main character’s monologues to be a little cringe.
paigeken's review against another edition
4.0
Wasn't sure about this until about 3/4 of the way through. But really good.
sincerelyyoursannie's review against another edition
5.0
I’ll admit, I was sold by the cover and title of the book.
Paper Ghosts. How could this not stand out to you?
When I was done reading the book, the title made complete sense. It actually blew my mind ever more. I’ve never heard of Julia Heaberlin before but after reading this book, I’m keen to read more of her books.
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/08/10/paper-ghosts-by-julia-heaberlin-book-review/
Paper Ghosts. How could this not stand out to you?
When I was done reading the book, the title made complete sense. It actually blew my mind ever more. I’ve never heard of Julia Heaberlin before but after reading this book, I’m keen to read more of her books.
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/08/10/paper-ghosts-by-julia-heaberlin-book-review/
james1star's review against another edition
mysterious
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
1.75
I really didn’t jam with this book and SO MANY times was about to dnf it. I grudgingly read up to the half way mark then was like nahhh so skimmed the rest only reading the last two chapters in full. I didn’t like the writing style, characters, plot, plot twists and more. It was an okay thriller/mystery story and I do usually enjoy films or drama shows like this but in book form it dragged and dragged, I wasn’t engaged or invested to want to read on. I also didn’t like ending and wanted stronger justice but Yhh.
The novel follows a woman who’s sister disappeared when she was a teenage, she pretends to be a dementia patient/acquitted murderers daughter as she thinks he killed her sister. They go on a road trip of sorts to murder locations to try and decipher if he is the killer and Yhh plot twists occur.
Overall, it was okay but I didn’t like it.
The novel follows a woman who’s sister disappeared when she was a teenage, she pretends to be a dementia patient/acquitted murderers daughter as she thinks he killed her sister. They go on a road trip of sorts to murder locations to try and decipher if he is the killer and Yhh plot twists occur.
Overall, it was okay but I didn’t like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Rape, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, and Murder
paulineerika's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story in spite of not liking the narrator very much. (She might be physically trained for what she's doing, but she sure wasn't mentally prepared at all.) But I think Carl more than made up for her. The plot was interesting, the writing sharp, and if I had to complain about anything, it would be the random introduction of Andy toward the end and the somewhat anticlimactic resolution to the main conflict.
kirstysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
This book follows a young girl whose sister was killed and she suspects that Carl is the culprit. Carl appears to be suffering from dementia so Grace pretends to be his daughter in order to take him on a road trip. The road trip is designed to bring back memories and force Carl to confess to what he did.
When I read the blurb for this book I was really interested in the plot I expected to be really hooked and on the edge of my seat. However, I didn't quite this experience as I found the book moved quite slowly. I didn't find the main character to be particuarly likable so I struggled to connect with her character.
Overall I thought this was ok. I liked the idea but I thought the story was dragged out in some places. I did like the tense atmosphere that the author had created during the road trip. I would be interested to read more from the author as I have heard good things about her other books.
When I read the blurb for this book I was really interested in the plot I expected to be really hooked and on the edge of my seat. However, I didn't quite this experience as I found the book moved quite slowly. I didn't find the main character to be particuarly likable so I struggled to connect with her character.
Overall I thought this was ok. I liked the idea but I thought the story was dragged out in some places. I did like the tense atmosphere that the author had created during the road trip. I would be interested to read more from the author as I have heard good things about her other books.