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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I feelt like I wasn't in the right mood for this book, it was readable and vaguely entertaining but not more then that. I didn't get as courious about how everything should end or did not particularly care about the characters.
Ohhhhh secrets! I did not know what to believe to be honest.
The books takes place in the present and flashes of Alison 10 years ago. How she has a toxic relationship with her bestie (but can not see it), how she falls in love for the first time with the greatest guy ever, Will!
And the present, how she fled to Holland and built a new life and now she has to go back. There are new girls found in the canal. Copycat? Was Will innocent? Was he part of something? I did not know what to believe. I mean he confessed 10 years ago! But then new things come into light. He was young, the questions were directed in a certain way. But why not claim he was innocent and shout it out? Oh the questions.
Alison starts to wonder too and together with a detective they try to get to the bottom of things and see to that no more girls are murdered. It gets intense there at the end and of course I had to put it down just as I was about to bite down my nails. Chilling!
It is not that long, and it does pack a nice punch at the end. You do not know what to think of Will. I sure went through all the stages.
Suspense, and secrets. What more does one want
The books takes place in the present and flashes of Alison 10 years ago. How she has a toxic relationship with her bestie (but can not see it), how she falls in love for the first time with the greatest guy ever, Will!
And the present, how she fled to Holland and built a new life and now she has to go back. There are new girls found in the canal. Copycat? Was Will innocent? Was he part of something? I did not know what to believe. I mean he confessed 10 years ago! But then new things come into light. He was young, the questions were directed in a certain way. But why not claim he was innocent and shout it out? Oh the questions.
Alison starts to wonder too and together with a detective they try to get to the bottom of things and see to that no more girls are murdered. It gets intense there at the end and of course I had to put it down just as I was about to bite down my nails. Chilling!
It is not that long, and it does pack a nice punch at the end. You do not know what to think of Will. I sure went through all the stages.
Suspense, and secrets. What more does one want
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
-along with different character POVs, also two different timelines: the present and past
-takes place in Ireland
-frustrated the true killer got killed off and there wasn’t an arrest or closure for the main character and reasoning why. but makes sense why his POV chapters were included throughout the book
-main character POV with male killer POV sprinkled throughout book
-good pacing with storyline, didn’t like the ending
-wish Shaw (the officer) was included more in the story since he played a big role in Will’s arrest
-Liz wasn’t a good friend and I wish Allison stood up to her a lot earlier
-last chapter POV made up for the ending since we truly know what happened, but too bad Allison didn’t
-takes place in Ireland
-frustrated the true killer got killed off and there wasn’t an arrest or closure for the main character and reasoning why. but makes sense why his POV chapters were included throughout the book
-main character POV with male killer POV sprinkled throughout book
-good pacing with storyline, didn’t like the ending
-wish Shaw (the officer) was included more in the story since he played a big role in Will’s arrest
-Liz wasn’t a good friend and I wish Allison stood up to her a lot earlier
-last chapter POV made up for the ending since we truly know what happened, but too bad Allison didn’t
Soooo many twists and turns! Kind of long but not too bad and there aren’t too many dull moments. If it wasn’t plot or character building majority of the time it was a twist. And for whoever’s read it, I don’t like Liz
"Young girls today, they’re so careless. They don’t realise what kind of creeps are out there, what those monsters might do with all this information they’re volunteering, posting out there in the world. He’d tried telling them, taking them aside and explaining it to them, but then they just mistook him for being one of those.”
Irish serial killer story, anyone? If you perked up at those words, you should check this out. It plays out cinematically and it's the type of story that builds and builds...
We're following Alison, whose boyfriend, Will, was put away for the Canal Killer's murders 10 years ago. But did he really do it?
That's what we're trying to figure out as we follow news of the new (copycat?) murderer's actions. Incredibly atmospheric, with well-drawn characters, this is a solid one!
Irish serial killer story, anyone? If you perked up at those words, you should check this out. It plays out cinematically and it's the type of story that builds and builds...
We're following Alison, whose boyfriend, Will, was put away for the Canal Killer's murders 10 years ago. But did he really do it?
That's what we're trying to figure out as we follow news of the new (copycat?) murderer's actions. Incredibly atmospheric, with well-drawn characters, this is a solid one!
I want to begin this review by saying that I really did enjoy this book. Was it the most compelling psychological thriller that I have every read? No. But did it check all of the boxes? Yes. I have the Barnes and Noble Nook app and The Liar's Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard was April 2019's Serial Read, so this is how I read it, for free. With that being said, I went it with super low expectations due to it being a free read, however, I was wrong. My expectations were far exceeded.
My Main Likes:
1. I really liked that the actual Canal Killer was someone totally removed from the main characters - some rando they had viewed an apartment for - and I also really enjoyed the ending twist - whoops Will really did kill Liz - just not the other girls.
2. I also really liked that Ali is not perfect by any means. She is traumatized and damaged - this made her very human and I appreciated that aspect of our main protag.
3. I also really liked that there was JUST ENOUGH tease that Will had done SOMETHING and that is what led him to confessing to the Canal Killer kills - and that the tease left you wondering even towards the end if Will really did have something to do will the killings.
The Things I did Not Like:
1. The lack of character development. I don't feel like Howard really did all that she could to develop these characters. I'm not sure if this was done due to lack of imagination or an attempt to keep the book short, but I think it hurt her characters. Ali's trauma could have been explored further and also her troubling relationship with her parents was never fleshed out.
2. Ali's friendship with Sal - if my BFF kept such a big secret from me for ten years, I would be a little upset and I would have went straight to her if she was dealing with what Ali was dealing with let alone when she was attacked. After Sal offered to come to Dublin and Ali told her no, there isn't really a whole lot of conversation regarding Sal.
3. The romantic relationship with Malone. Look I get what Howard was doing here, she was showing that in helping to solve the Canal Killer case, Ali had gotten over her trauma about being in love with a supposed serial killer, but my issue here lies again in character development. This could have been a great asset to the story. Because of a lack of a developed relationship, it hurts the story. Howard doesn't show how the relationship evolved or even why Malone was totally comfortable with putting his arm around Ali's waist and she automatically was comfortable relaxing on his shoulder. The last time she "accidentally" fell asleep on his shoulder on the couch had her embarrassed and not knowing what to do. I just wish there had been more to this relationship.
Those three reasons are why I docked a star, and yes for all those naysayers, I only docked one star because as I said at the beginning of the review, I really and truly enjoyed this book, I only wish it had been longer with more development of certain aspects.
My Main Likes:
1. I really liked that the actual Canal Killer was someone totally removed from the main characters - some rando they had viewed an apartment for - and I also really enjoyed the ending twist - whoops Will really did kill Liz - just not the other girls.
2. I also really liked that Ali is not perfect by any means. She is traumatized and damaged - this made her very human and I appreciated that aspect of our main protag.
3. I also really liked that there was JUST ENOUGH tease that Will had done SOMETHING and that is what led him to confessing to the Canal Killer kills - and that the tease left you wondering even towards the end if Will really did have something to do will the killings.
The Things I did Not Like:
1. The lack of character development. I don't feel like Howard really did all that she could to develop these characters. I'm not sure if this was done due to lack of imagination or an attempt to keep the book short, but I think it hurt her characters. Ali's trauma could have been explored further and also her troubling relationship with her parents was never fleshed out.
2. Ali's friendship with Sal - if my BFF kept such a big secret from me for ten years, I would be a little upset and I would have went straight to her if she was dealing with what Ali was dealing with let alone when she was attacked. After Sal offered to come to Dublin and Ali told her no, there isn't really a whole lot of conversation regarding Sal.
3. The romantic relationship with Malone. Look I get what Howard was doing here, she was showing that in helping to solve the Canal Killer case, Ali had gotten over her trauma about being in love with a supposed serial killer, but my issue here lies again in character development. This could have been a great asset to the story. Because of a lack of a developed relationship, it hurts the story. Howard doesn't show how the relationship evolved or even why Malone was totally comfortable with putting his arm around Ali's waist and she automatically was comfortable relaxing on his shoulder. The last time she "accidentally" fell asleep on his shoulder on the couch had her embarrassed and not knowing what to do. I just wish there had been more to this relationship.
Those three reasons are why I docked a star, and yes for all those naysayers, I only docked one star because as I said at the beginning of the review, I really and truly enjoyed this book, I only wish it had been longer with more development of certain aspects.
Reading this immediately after “the nothing man”, i noticed the author used a few of the same plot lines but it didn’t bother me that much. Great mystery with lots of twists !
Another great read from Catherine! I’m reading her work a little backwards but have finally finished all 6 of her thrillers!
56 days, Run Time & The Nothing Man are still my favourites & solid 5 stars!
However, this was another great concept & read from this author! Again I love her writing style & how easy her stories are to follow even with all the twists & turns!
I loved the current day vs back then POV & was a really solid & gripping story.
I was constantly thinking I had it figured out, and then a twist hit me - which is my favourite kind of thrillers/crimes to read. Left me once again so excited to see Catherine’s future work!
56 days, Run Time & The Nothing Man are still my favourites & solid 5 stars!
However, this was another great concept & read from this author! Again I love her writing style & how easy her stories are to follow even with all the twists & turns!
I loved the current day vs back then POV & was a really solid & gripping story.
I was constantly thinking I had it figured out, and then a twist hit me - which is my favourite kind of thrillers/crimes to read. Left me once again so excited to see Catherine’s future work!