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bookishmillennial's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Okay, I am thinking I should have read the author's other book first? Because it seems like everyone else says this is part of a series (Sandy Lake mystery apparently)?! Yet, there is no series indicator in the title or description? Can we get serious about properly marketing/clarifying standalone books in an interconnected series? *screams in Virgo*
Anyway, I think the author is simply not for me. The pacing was all over the place, scenes jumped so abruptly from one to another, and though you expect a thriller to be fast-paced, this was too frenetic. It stressed me out, and it wasn't just the story which is understandable in a thriller/mystery. It was the exposition, the storytelling, the pace, the tone, the stilted sentences, pretty much everything in the way the book was written.
I appreciate that we have a gay man in charge but I think I also just don't vibe with cops, so maybe that's my problem lol. The plot was enticing enough with this small town murder mystery that I did finish to stay for the final reveal, but my brain could not follow the writing that well. I think I'm the outlier here because everyone else adored it, and that's okay. Joshua has his audience, but it's just not me. I'm sorry, I tried!
Anyway, I think the author is simply not for me. The pacing was all over the place, scenes jumped so abruptly from one to another, and though you expect a thriller to be fast-paced, this was too frenetic. It stressed me out, and it wasn't just the story which is understandable in a thriller/mystery. It was the exposition, the storytelling, the pace, the tone, the stilted sentences, pretty much everything in the way the book was written.
I appreciate that we have a gay man in charge but I think I also just don't vibe with cops, so maybe that's my problem lol. The plot was enticing enough with this small town murder mystery that I did finish to stay for the final reveal, but my brain could not follow the writing that well. I think I'm the outlier here because everyone else adored it, and that's okay. Joshua has his audience, but it's just not me. I'm sorry, I tried!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death
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