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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hmmm - let me say at the outset I don't read Nora Roberts (unlike millions of others) - or this type of romantic fiction - and this reading exercise was for a library course I'm taking.
Having said that, it has made me think long and hard about the genre. This is a combination of genres, actually, a romantic love story, and a grisly crime tale. The romance simmered along with increasing sexual tension, and was, in the main, well done. The chisel jawed hero was suitably sexy, kind, caring and even read books between playing in a rock band. The rub is with the ghastly crimes that permeate this seemingly benign romantic tale, in which house renovations, shabby chic decor, an affectionate dog, and long lingering descriptions of photography (the heroine is a photographer) seem oddly out of place amidst the serial murders.
So, if you're expecting a romance and lots of cosy domestic interiors you will not be disappointed; if, however, like me, you would prefer it not peppered with grisly crime, then don't say you weren't warned.
Having said that, it has made me think long and hard about the genre. This is a combination of genres, actually, a romantic love story, and a grisly crime tale. The romance simmered along with increasing sexual tension, and was, in the main, well done. The chisel jawed hero was suitably sexy, kind, caring and even read books between playing in a rock band. The rub is with the ghastly crimes that permeate this seemingly benign romantic tale, in which house renovations, shabby chic decor, an affectionate dog, and long lingering descriptions of photography (the heroine is a photographer) seem oddly out of place amidst the serial murders.
So, if you're expecting a romance and lots of cosy domestic interiors you will not be disappointed; if, however, like me, you would prefer it not peppered with grisly crime, then don't say you weren't warned.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Great read! Held interest
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
From the very first chapter, The Obsession had me hooked. While the pacing is on the slower side, it works beautifully to build both the suspenseful mystery and the evolving romance between Naomi and Xander. The characters are well-drawn, and I especially enjoyed getting to know the close-knit town and its residents. There are some darker themes explored in the story, so I recommend checking content warnings before diving in. Overall, it was a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
A flawed book with some very good bits.
The start is raw and gripping and felt emotionally true. A young girl (Naomi) with a abusive father discovers that he's a serial killer. The writing is shocking but also precise, and engrossing. The details felt totally believable.
Then it becomes a sort of cozy-serial killer book? If there's such a thing? Still entertaining but not at all the same kind of direct, incisive, precise depiction of the character's inner life. A lot of time spent on the main character's house renovation and interior decoration. Which kind of works as it's in the context of her dealing with PTSD. But it's very much in the world of "wish fulfillment and escapism" rather in the much more unsettling rawness of the beginning.
The cute rescue dog, the sexy guitar playing mechanic boyfriend, the instant female best friend, and a lot of time spent on choosing paint colours, desks and lamps. Which was soothing to read and kind of fun, but not living up to the promise of that beginning.
The characters also talk to one another in quite unbelievable ways. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they say things that people just wouldn't say.
There was also quite a bit of borderline abusive boundary crossing by the main love interest, which felt weird in the context of a story about a sexually abusive serial killer. Especially as the younger version of Naomi in the first few chapters had a sharp eye for noticing when the men in her life did this to her, and judged them appropriately. But multiple times when grownup Naomi says "no" but apparently she really means yes, and her boyfriend knows this.
And of course it's yet another story that uses the sexual abuse, torture, and murder of multiple women as a plot device. I think we've grown so used to this in our stories that it doesn't even really register anymore.
The start is raw and gripping and felt emotionally true. A young girl (Naomi) with a abusive father discovers that he's a serial killer. The writing is shocking but also precise, and engrossing. The details felt totally believable.
Then it becomes a sort of cozy-serial killer book? If there's such a thing? Still entertaining but not at all the same kind of direct, incisive, precise depiction of the character's inner life. A lot of time spent on the main character's house renovation and interior decoration. Which kind of works as it's in the context of her dealing with PTSD. But it's very much in the world of "wish fulfillment and escapism" rather in the much more unsettling rawness of the beginning.
The cute rescue dog, the sexy guitar playing mechanic boyfriend, the instant female best friend, and a lot of time spent on choosing paint colours, desks and lamps. Which was soothing to read and kind of fun, but not living up to the promise of that beginning.
The characters also talk to one another in quite unbelievable ways. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they say things that people just wouldn't say.
There was also quite a bit of borderline abusive boundary crossing by the main love interest, which felt weird in the context of a story about a sexually abusive serial killer. Especially as the younger version of Naomi in the first few chapters had a sharp eye for noticing when the men in her life did this to her, and judged them appropriately. But multiple times when grownup Naomi says "no" but apparently she really means yes, and her boyfriend knows this.
And of course it's yet another story that uses the sexual abuse, torture, and murder of multiple women as a plot device. I think we've grown so used to this in our stories that it doesn't even really register anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking