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lindseyannd's review against another edition
4.0
Not how I would have pictured the ending, sort of wish the story went a different way. Enjoyed it nonetheless.
easyvisionary's review against another edition
5.0
Alternative title suggestion: the house her father built. Thank you I’ll take the royalties now!
What an incredible book dude! And maybe I say this all the time but this is next level! Such an interesting take. Telling the stories of the children of murders. The way we learn from our fathers right and wrong even if those things are mixed up. Because we trust them and we love them and love to be loved by them.
What an incredible book dude! And maybe I say this all the time but this is next level! Such an interesting take. Telling the stories of the children of murders. The way we learn from our fathers right and wrong even if those things are mixed up. Because we trust them and we love them and love to be loved by them.
mljmoore's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jkrue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
okevamae's review against another edition
5.0
Vera Crowder’s dying estranged mother asks her to come home, and Vera complies – even though every inch of the house she grew up in reminds her of her serial killer father, Francis. Her mother rents out the guest house, and the people who take up residence always know exactly who used to live in the Crowder house – to them, that’s the appeal. The current renter, an artist named James Duvall, is especially unsettling to Vera, in part because his father literally wrote the book on Francis Crowder, but also because he is convinced that the Crowder house is haunted.
This book is dark, twisted, and disturbing, but really beautifully written and compelling. Vera has a complicated relationship with her memories of her childhood. She remembers her father as a loving parent – far more loving than her emotionally abusive mother ever was – but the rest of the world knows him as a monster. The dark secrets of Vera’s childhood are slowly revealed to the audience as memories of the past are interspersed with the actions of the present. And in the present, we slowly begin to realize that something paranormal may indeed be going on at the Crowder house. (For some reason I wasn’t expecting the supernatural stuff, but it’s Sarah Gailey so I really should have known there would be some kind of SF/F element involved.)
CW: disturbing imagery, child abuse, murder, gore, torture
This book is dark, twisted, and disturbing, but really beautifully written and compelling. Vera has a complicated relationship with her memories of her childhood. She remembers her father as a loving parent – far more loving than her emotionally abusive mother ever was – but the rest of the world knows him as a monster. The dark secrets of Vera’s childhood are slowly revealed to the audience as memories of the past are interspersed with the actions of the present. And in the present, we slowly begin to realize that something paranormal may indeed be going on at the Crowder house. (For some reason I wasn’t expecting the supernatural stuff, but it’s Sarah Gailey so I really should have known there would be some kind of SF/F element involved.)
CW: disturbing imagery, child abuse, murder, gore, torture
ashleysbooknook_22's review against another edition
I just couldn’t get into the story. For me it was just slow and instead of wanting to know WHERE the story was going and feeling the suspense and excitement, I just felt bored and impatient. The synopsis of the book and the material inside just did not add up for me and I’m slightly disappointed. I wanted to like this book so much but I’m not sure I’m in the correct mindset it get into it or if it’s just not for me. I might try again later.
booknerdgamer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
caraem3's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5