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0blitzhuman0's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lynguy1's review against another edition
3.0
David Bell immerses readers in a locked house mystery in his latest book, The Finalists. It’s spring and time for the six finalists at Hyde College in Bluefield, Kentucky to compete for a prized scholarship that also has extra benefits. The students, a college liaison, and a representative from the Hyde family are locked in Hyde House for eight hours. This will be the 152nd year of this tradition. The students are evaluated on an essay written during the morning and individual personal interviews in the afternoon. If the students leave before time is up, they’ll be disqualified. When one of the students dies, the others wonder if they will be killed one by one. Was it murder, an accident, a health issue, or something else entirely?
There are eight major characters in this novel. Vice President Troy Gaines is the college liaison and misses teaching. He’s married, has three children, and is worried about being able to afford paying for their college. At times, he came across as a diplomat and at other times as an authority figure. Occasionally, it felt like he reacted to the situations unrealistically. Nicholas Hyde is the heir to the Hyde family fortune. He’s irresponsible and likes to party and flirt. The students are Milo Reed, Natalia Gomez, Captain James Stephenson, Sydney Mosley, Duffy Mansfield, and Emily Paine. Readers get some insight into their personalities. All of them are desperate for the scholarship money and readers gradually get their backstories.
The characters were easily identifiable, and I had no trouble remembering who was who. The author does a good job of setting the atmosphere and tone of the novel. I could easily visualize the rooms in Hyde House, an aging Victorian house that has been in the Hyde family since the 1800’s. The tone is ominous even without a death due to protestors and strict bylaws requiring no personal items, including cell phones and smart watches.
The story seems to ebb and flow, but it gradually builds momentum. It was interesting to see how everyone in the story reacted as events, including death, occurred during the book. Would you feel safe? How would you react? The dialogue felt realistic despite the lack of critical thinking around solutions. While this was not a fast page-turner for me, the pacing worked well. Will you find the plot twist at the end a surprise or a disappointment?
The author layers multiple themes as the story focuses on the challenges students face in order to get an education as well as the lengths colleges will go to in order to receive donations from wealthy donors. Other themes include safety, death, secrets, blaming others, grief, protests, underrepresented groups of students in college, tradition, and respect.
Overall, this engaging novel was never dull and had periods of intense suspense. If you enjoy locked room (building) mysteries, then I recommend that you check out this one. The key is to connect to one or more of the eight main characters. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Berkley Publishing Group and David Bell provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 5, 2022.
There are eight major characters in this novel. Vice President Troy Gaines is the college liaison and misses teaching. He’s married, has three children, and is worried about being able to afford paying for their college. At times, he came across as a diplomat and at other times as an authority figure. Occasionally, it felt like he reacted to the situations unrealistically. Nicholas Hyde is the heir to the Hyde family fortune. He’s irresponsible and likes to party and flirt. The students are Milo Reed, Natalia Gomez, Captain James Stephenson, Sydney Mosley, Duffy Mansfield, and Emily Paine. Readers get some insight into their personalities. All of them are desperate for the scholarship money and readers gradually get their backstories.
The characters were easily identifiable, and I had no trouble remembering who was who. The author does a good job of setting the atmosphere and tone of the novel. I could easily visualize the rooms in Hyde House, an aging Victorian house that has been in the Hyde family since the 1800’s. The tone is ominous even without a death due to protestors and strict bylaws requiring no personal items, including cell phones and smart watches.
The story seems to ebb and flow, but it gradually builds momentum. It was interesting to see how everyone in the story reacted as events, including death, occurred during the book. Would you feel safe? How would you react? The dialogue felt realistic despite the lack of critical thinking around solutions. While this was not a fast page-turner for me, the pacing worked well. Will you find the plot twist at the end a surprise or a disappointment?
The author layers multiple themes as the story focuses on the challenges students face in order to get an education as well as the lengths colleges will go to in order to receive donations from wealthy donors. Other themes include safety, death, secrets, blaming others, grief, protests, underrepresented groups of students in college, tradition, and respect.
Overall, this engaging novel was never dull and had periods of intense suspense. If you enjoy locked room (building) mysteries, then I recommend that you check out this one. The key is to connect to one or more of the eight main characters. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Berkley Publishing Group and David Bell provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 5, 2022.
fictionaddictions_amanda's review against another edition
3.0
One Sentence Review: Not what I was expecting of this book, but it was an okay read.
This book was read for a reading vlog on my YouTube channel, Fiction Addictions. You can get more information about the book as well as a more detailed review when I post the April Secret TBR Pick reading vlog.
This book was read for a reading vlog on my YouTube channel, Fiction Addictions. You can get more information about the book as well as a more detailed review when I post the April Secret TBR Pick reading vlog.
asigler03's review against another edition
3.0
Out of all of the books I’ve read in 2023, this is the lowest Goodreads score. While this book wasn’t a masterpiece, it was nowhere near deserving of that title (compared to others). I liked the final twist at the end and the main character was interesting, but I will say that the story was a bit slow at times. Overall, though, I would read another book by Bell in the future.
jmj697mn's review against another edition
2.0
I mean, I finished it...but barely. Skip this one, it's not Bells best work. I didn't care about any of the characters and it was 100+ pages too long.
giuli_and_her_books's review against another edition
2.0
This book started so well! It had everything I was looking for in a book - murder mystery, dark academia vibes, escape room setting. Too bad it stopped there. There was no real explanation for things that happened in the book - six students have to take an exam to win a scholarship - but they have to do it in a locked house (with windows also nailed shut) and they can't get out till the doors get unlocked at 4pm. But why? What was the reason behind that? No clue. It could have been so interesting!
Nothing happened for the whole book (I mean, yes, two people died, but I cared so little about them that I was kind of uninterested in them anyway?). I felt like most of the book was just random dialogues that made no sense. Someone would say something, and someone else would answer with something else that had no connection to what the previous person said.
And again, I didn't care for any of the characters - they were so flat and boring. At a certain point I hoped everyone would die there.
Only upside? The chapters were super short and the ending wasn't terrible.
I have been told other books by this author are better, so I might give them a go in the future.
Nothing happened for the whole book (I mean, yes, two people died, but I cared so little about them that I was kind of uninterested in them anyway?). I felt like most of the book was just random dialogues that made no sense. Someone would say something, and someone else would answer with something else that had no connection to what the previous person said.
And again, I didn't care for any of the characters - they were so flat and boring. At a certain point I hoped everyone would die there.
Only upside? The chapters were super short and the ending wasn't terrible.
I have been told other books by this author are better, so I might give them a go in the future.
hdancy_14's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rmarcin's review
3.0
Six students are gathered to compete for the Hyde scholarship which provides tuition and other financial benefits to the winner. The students are locked in the Hyde House, per tradition, with VP of school, Troy Gaines, and the trustee and member of the donor family, Nicholas Hyde. Each student ha been selected due to financial need and academic talent. When strange things begin to occur during the proceedings, everyone starts to suspect the other candidates, until the explosive ending reveals all.
The concept of the method and procedure associated with choosing the scholarship winner was bizarre and I didn't really care about any of the characters. I did like all the red herrings and suspicion, but it wasn't enough.
The concept of the method and procedure associated with choosing the scholarship winner was bizarre and I didn't really care about any of the characters. I did like all the red herrings and suspicion, but it wasn't enough.
avidreader8725's review
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide, Racism, Deportation, and Death of parent