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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
dark
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:
Yes
Slow but, quietly thrilling
Erin Kelly writes with careful thought, unravelling details in good time. The characters we meet at the beginning remain consistent throughout but with brilliant development. People change, especially after a crises and Kelly's characters are true to this.
Ultimately, the unravelling of the story is tense and satisfying-in equal measure.
We follow a woman, Laura, who, with her boyfriend, Kit -an eclipse enthusiast- finds herself a key witness to an alleged rape. The reader learns how this affects them both, the nature of their relationship and, up until the last page, how it changes who they are in the end. Secrets have power, they can wreck everything you care for.
Writing with clever precision, and considerate of realistic outcomes and consequences, Erin Kelly nails it. I particulary enjoyed the dual timelines, far better than reading 'the event' seeing how it affects characters in the moment, and simply learning the past through a series of flashbacks. He Said/ She Said's fomat gave past and present and, we soon realise they're still too dangerously connected.
Personally, I didn't mind the slowness, I'm currently reading The Girl On The Train which begins slowly as well. While it wasn't the pacing, I'd say the final few pages wete more tense in than the book in its entirety. There was more storytelling than 'big moments.' Though besides the chance of befriending two slightly-'messed up' people, I can't say there was anything that was outright unfeasible.
Erin Kelly writes with careful thought, unravelling details in good time. The characters we meet at the beginning remain consistent throughout but with brilliant development. People change, especially after a crises and Kelly's characters are true to this.
Ultimately, the unravelling of the story is tense and satisfying-in equal measure.
We follow a woman, Laura, who, with her boyfriend, Kit -an eclipse enthusiast- finds herself a key witness to an alleged rape. The reader learns how this affects them both, the nature of their relationship and, up until the last page, how it changes who they are in the end. Secrets have power, they can wreck everything you care for.
Writing with clever precision, and considerate of realistic outcomes and consequences, Erin Kelly nails it. I particulary enjoyed the dual timelines, far better than reading 'the event' seeing how it affects characters in the moment, and simply learning the past through a series of flashbacks. He Said/ She Said's fomat gave past and present and, we soon realise they're still too dangerously connected.
Personally, I didn't mind the slowness, I'm currently reading The Girl On The Train which begins slowly as well. While it wasn't the pacing, I'd say the final few pages wete more tense in than the book in its entirety. There was more storytelling than 'big moments.' Though besides the chance of befriending two slightly-'messed up' people, I can't say there was anything that was outright unfeasible.
What I loved: Erin Kelly's twists, as I did with Poison Tree.
What I didn't love: how she got there. I can understand why Laura texted what she did as a deus ex machina, but it was incredibly weak nonetheless as a catalyst for the last quarter of the book.
What I didn't love: how she got there. I can understand why Laura texted what she did as a deus ex machina, but it was incredibly weak nonetheless as a catalyst for the last quarter of the book.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I saw a review for a film that said men should be born in prison and have to earn their way out. This book adds fuel to that opinion.
Interesting twists and turns. Took me awhile to get into it, but overall I liked the story line.
I recall reading Erin Kelly and the Poison Tree when she was a debut writer and this is the first I’ve read since. It is very much in the same mould but no worse for that - gripping, suspenseful, surprising, believable - but perhaps my only criticism is that it is not really multi-layered. But then again it perhaps isn’t intended to be. One last thing is that while I don’t think Erin Kelly is a literary genius, her writing is sufficiently sophisticated not to grate.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
very good, I didn't guess the ending at all. this kept me turning the pages and trying to figure it out.
also, I'm heartbroken. I think this book illustrated some tough issues. I don't want to say I liked the ending, for there is nothing to like about this story. but I'm satisfied with the ending.
also, I'm heartbroken. I think this book illustrated some tough issues. I don't want to say I liked the ending, for there is nothing to like about this story. but I'm satisfied with the ending.
He Said/She Said has been touted as THE psychological thriller of the summer, and it is receiving a huge amount of positive publicity. I am excited to say that, for me, this book completely lived up to its reputation. The tension hooked me early on, built quickly, and was steady throughout. It had everything I love in a thriller- the perfect pacing, fleshed out characters, mounting tension, great writing, an original plot, a twist I did not see coming; it really was the perfect read. The plot was so suspenseful, so clever; now I'm trying to find a way to dance around all the juicy details, so I don't give anything away! Erin Kelly is definitely an author to watch!
Trigger warning: as is mentioned in the synopsis, there is an attack on a female early on, and it does come up again throughout the book.
Thanks to the author and the publisher, I received a surprise ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warning: as is mentioned in the synopsis, there is an attack on a female early on, and it does come up again throughout the book.
Thanks to the author and the publisher, I received a surprise ARC in exchange for an honest review.