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3.09 AVERAGE
3.09 AVERAGE
Let’s start with the good:
From the get-go, the premise itself is interesting. Especially if you are an avid consumer of true crime: a true crime podcaster that disappears? Riveting!
The story was also pretty well written. It did feel a bit YA at certain parts but it wasn’t too terrible.
Now onto the rest of it:
The protagonist is insufferable. I mean, truly. Her obsession with the podcast and the host is bizarre. And I just don’t believe that she’s sooooo connected to the host simply by listening to the podcast that 1) she’d know something was wrong in this small town so immediately and 2) she’d be competent enough to solve a crime. I almost wanted her to let it go, move on, and never find Rachel.
Of course it ended the way it did. The ending felt like the author wanted the book to be more interesting than it was. Almost like, “let’s give them a twist!” — except it wasn’t a twist and it was one of the more predictable endings because yeah of course the killer had to be that person. It was also very rushed.
From the get-go, the premise itself is interesting. Especially if you are an avid consumer of true crime: a true crime podcaster that disappears? Riveting!
The story was also pretty well written. It did feel a bit YA at certain parts but it wasn’t too terrible.
Now onto the rest of it:
The protagonist is insufferable. I mean, truly. Her obsession with the podcast and the host is bizarre. And I just don’t believe that she’s sooooo connected to the host simply by listening to the podcast that 1) she’d know something was wrong in this small town so immediately and 2) she’d be competent enough to solve a crime. I almost wanted her to let it go, move on, and never find Rachel.
Of course it ended the way it did. The ending felt like the author wanted the book to be more interesting than it was. Almost like, “let’s give them a twist!” — except it wasn’t a twist and it was one of the more predictable endings because yeah of course the killer had to be that person. It was also very rushed.
This book is really well done. The ending, for me, was a bit harder to follow. It almost felt like an add on (which technically it was a three months later) but I am not sure, it didn't seem to fit.
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
As I suspected from somewhere around page two, my conclusion is that most reviewers of this book have been somewhat harsh. For a mystery thriller with an unbearably reckless main character and a host of seedy NPCs, I found this shockingly enjoyable and well-written. Even the tension-packed series of bait-and-switches near the end seemed to tie the whole thing together quite nicely, and truthfully I thought the second-person POV was delightful. Other than a bit of lopsided pacing, I really don't have many complaints. Looking forward to her next!
This book was very different. It wasn’t what i was expecting at all. I was curious about the main characters obsession with Rachel. I didn’t really get why she was so drawn to figure out what happened to Rachel. I think it was a great premise. There was a lot of suspense. I suspected everyone. I didn’t fully understand why people behaved the way they did until the end. And i was not expecting the ending! That was something else. I liked this book. I ended up enjoying it but it wasn’t my favorite either. The suspense and mystery of it all was my fav part
Negatives i would say, i wanted a little more things to happen. Maybe a little less repetitive. But overall a good read
Negatives i would say, i wanted a little more things to happen. Maybe a little less repetitive. But overall a good read
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Captivating and creepy. Atmospheric and tense. Uncomfortable and unsettling. Eliza Jane Brazier’s debut had my pulse pounding from first minute to last. Sarah is a lonely and lost 30 something with an obsession with true crime podcasts, the “Murder She Spoke“ podcast being her favorite. When Rachel the host of the MSS podcast goes missing Sarah is compelled to find her. Sarah‘s search for Rachel takes her to small town Northern California and Rachel‘s family ranch. When Sarah arrives in the small town she is surprised to find that nobody seems to be worried about where Rachel has gone. Not her family, not her friends, not the police, but Sarah is certain there are sinister things going on and she is determined to find her favorite podcaster.
The story is told in second person with Sarah speaking to the reader as if they are Rachel. There were also snippets of the podcast woven into the beginning of each chapter.The creepy feel of this ranch was so vividly described it just jumped off the pages. Sarah ends up taking a job at the ranch and is housed in disgusting quarters. I had the heebie-jeebies and wanted to gag from the description of the smell of rat droppings. *Yuck* I could just visualize the overgrown blackberry bushes and feel the impending doom. The story is filled with Unusual characters that you never quite get a handle on. Even Sarah our narrator is a complete mystery. Is she reliable? Is she crazy? What’s with the obsession? I knew she was divorced, had a nowhere job, and was about to get evicted, but other than that I really had no idea of her backstory. I think this might have added to the atmosphere of the story? I always felt a little bit off balance, a little uneasy, a couple facts short of understanding completely what was going on. A compelling thriller, looking forward to see what is next from Miss Brazier
This book and emojis
The story is told in second person with Sarah speaking to the reader as if they are Rachel. There were also snippets of the podcast woven into the beginning of each chapter.The creepy feel of this ranch was so vividly described it just jumped off the pages. Sarah ends up taking a job at the ranch and is housed in disgusting quarters. I had the heebie-jeebies and wanted to gag from the description of the smell of rat droppings. *Yuck* I could just visualize the overgrown blackberry bushes and feel the impending doom. The story is filled with Unusual characters that you never quite get a handle on. Even Sarah our narrator is a complete mystery. Is she reliable? Is she crazy? What’s with the obsession? I knew she was divorced, had a nowhere job, and was about to get evicted, but other than that I really had no idea of her backstory. I think this might have added to the atmosphere of the story? I always felt a little bit off balance, a little uneasy, a couple facts short of understanding completely what was going on. A compelling thriller, looking forward to see what is next from Miss Brazier
This book and emojis
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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
I wished there was alittle but more. The ending was ok but I wish….
I wish the killer would’ve killed the main character or the killer and the main character could’ve had a battle or something but for it just end with her being like… “ could take her” no thank you
DNF at 50%
Cover art: A+
Content: sadly, this fell short
I had Sadie expectations and felt bored and confused.
Cover art: A+
Content: sadly, this fell short
I had Sadie expectations and felt bored and confused.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No