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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This book is the perfect read if you are a lover of dark/moody mysteries and holiday vibes. it’s a short read, but packed with interesting and dark holiday happenings. There were quite a few unexpected twists and turns. Overall, I give it a 3.5 ⭐️☺️
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ashley Smith is an American student studying in London. She doesn’t have any family, so she was planning to spend Christmas break alone. Then, her friend, Emma, invites Ashley to her family home for Christmas. While there, the girls spend their time wandering around the estate, avoiding Emma’s weird parents, and hanging out with Emma’s brother, Adam. Ashley develops a crush on Adam. This was a short novella with great atmosphere. The characters were a little flat, but there was a nice twist at the end.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Perfect Christmas murder novella. Nice and creepy. Read it in one sitting!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick little holiday mystery novella! Not much to it, but I enjoyed it for what it was.
I’ve only read a few novellas. This book reminds me, that if done well, I can enjoy a novella more than a full-length novel - and Swanson did it VERY well.
The brevity of the story did not sacrifice rich storytelling, developed characters, stunning settings and tone. This was a delicious, bite-sized murder mystery with all the glorious trappings of a well- thought out and well-written one.
Swanson deploys a familiar trick that really good mysteries employ and he did it expertly. The unreliable narrator, but with a slight twist. It created a reveal that even in its few pages, shocks the reader. Love it!!
This was a very clever mystery and reveal. Written so taut, that you don’t need 300 pages of character-development, dialogue, scene setting, foreboding or foreshadowing. Swanson pulls it off in under a 100.
This novella is writing at its best. To be able to deliver a well-developed stunner in less than 100 pages that leaves a fully satisfied reader is a true talent.
The brevity of the story did not sacrifice rich storytelling, developed characters, stunning settings and tone. This was a delicious, bite-sized murder mystery with all the glorious trappings of a well- thought out and well-written one.
Swanson deploys a familiar trick that really good mysteries employ and he did it expertly. The unreliable narrator, but with a slight twist. It created a reveal that even in its few pages, shocks the reader. Love it!!
This was a very clever mystery and reveal. Written so taut, that you don’t need 300 pages of character-development, dialogue, scene setting, foreboding or foreshadowing. Swanson pulls it off in under a 100.
This novella is writing at its best. To be able to deliver a well-developed stunner in less than 100 pages that leaves a fully satisfied reader is a true talent.
Yes I read this on the beach in August. You should read this at Christmastime by the fire