Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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:
Yes
This was amazing and I will admit that I was extremely worried due to seeing certain reviews and reviewers being disappointed with how the series ended, I will admit that while the ending isn't my favourite, I think the rest of the book more than made up for the somewhat anticlimactic ending.
I really liked how this book brought the whole series together in a circular narrative. I loved that Andie's character outside of what happened to her was filled in and to me. It didn't feel forced and I'm glad that certain details weren't retconned to serve the purpose needed for the story. It actually answers some longstanding questions from the first book that was never truly explained such as 'Why was Andie so desperate to leave this seemingly perfect life of hers?', 'What happened to Pip's dog Barney seen as Elliot admits that he never did anything to him?', 'Why did Andie start dealing drugs?' etc. It was done really well imo and I'm glad that most loose ends were tied together concerning other books in the series.
This book also has the story at its grittiest and darkest whilst also having Pip at her lowest and once again I think it's done well by Holly Jackson and her writing. It may get tiresome for some to read about Stanley's blood being on Pip's hands for the 80th time but it serves a point to remark on the PTSD and trauma Pip has gained due to her crucial yet self-damaging involvement in these cases. Pip is shown to be a strong character and has some amazing character development in this book and from where she started in the first one.
Pip killing Jason Bell / The DT Killer / The Slough Strangler was unexpected, and it allowed Pip to fall into that morally grey area that she hates so much. There were some nitpicks that I did have an issue with such as Charlie's role in the book, after evading capture at the end of the last book, Pip constantly mentions him and how what he did to Stanley and his conflicting morals has affected her on a major level yet when he is captured it's simply a throwaway line that doesn't ever amount to anything. We don't get to see Pip confront him and just talk which could have been a very interesting dynamic considering the build-up. Billy Karass' unjust imprisonment is also dropped pretty quickly after mentioning it as it acts more as a plot point for Pip to discover and learn about the DT Killer and just gets dropped until right at the end where it's briefly mentioned and resolved leaving it to feel a bit rushed.
Overall, I still loved this book despite some minor flaws and by extension, I loved this series as well. I may begin reading She's Gone by David Bell as I have seen that it has similar vibes to this series.
I really liked how this book brought the whole series together in a circular narrative. I loved that Andie's character outside of what happened to her was filled in and to me. It didn't feel forced and I'm glad that certain details weren't retconned to serve the purpose needed for the story. It actually answers some longstanding questions from the first book that was never truly explained such as 'Why was Andie so desperate to leave this seemingly perfect life of hers?', 'What happened to Pip's dog Barney seen as Elliot admits that he never did anything to him?', 'Why did Andie start dealing drugs?' etc. It was done really well imo and I'm glad that most loose ends were tied together concerning other books in the series.
This book also has the story at its grittiest and darkest whilst also having Pip at her lowest and once again I think it's done well by Holly Jackson and her writing. It may get tiresome for some to read about Stanley's blood being on Pip's hands for the 80th time but it serves a point to remark on the PTSD and trauma Pip has gained due to her crucial yet self-damaging involvement in these cases. Pip is shown to be a strong character and has some amazing character development in this book and from where she started in the first one.
Pip killing Jason Bell / The DT Killer / The Slough Strangler was unexpected, and it allowed Pip to fall into that morally grey area that she hates so much. There were some nitpicks that I did have an issue with such as Charlie's role in the book, after evading capture at the end of the last book, Pip constantly mentions him and how what he did to Stanley and his conflicting morals has affected her on a major level yet when he is captured it's simply a throwaway line that doesn't ever amount to anything. We don't get to see Pip confront him and just talk which could have been a very interesting dynamic considering the build-up. Billy Karass' unjust imprisonment is also dropped pretty quickly after mentioning it as it acts more as a plot point for Pip to discover and learn about the DT Killer and just gets dropped until right at the end where it's briefly mentioned and resolved leaving it to feel a bit rushed.
Overall, I still loved this book despite some minor flaws and by extension, I loved this series as well. I may begin reading She's Gone by David Bell as I have seen that it has similar vibes to this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Stalking
Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pip Fitz-Amobi is haunted by her last investigation. But soon a new case finds her and this time it's all about Pip. I went into this book with really high expectations because I really enjoyed the first two, but this book wasn't it. Don't get me wrong, the way it was written was so well done and I was terrified the entire way through, it gripped me considering I read it in one day, which for me is the mark of a well written book. However, I felt that the Pip in this book was completely different to the first two. I know trauma affects people differently but I do think it went a bit too far. I'm sorry but she should have just gone to the police, they'd of had to investigate it and they would've found all the evidence leading to the conclusion that Jason Bell was DT and for me Pip would've known that, same goes for Ravi I was sobbing at the end of the book and did not expect it in the slightest. I miss Ravi and Pippa from the first two books, that's where the series ends for me. I'd recommend this book to people who like thrillers. I don't think this one was for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Yes
Amazing conclusion to an amazing series. I absolutely love these books and could not put this one down. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely went a lot darker than I'd expected though, to the point where I don't think it fits into the YA category anymore
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Blood
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How great when someone comits to the descent of a character into madness, into embracing what they want to fight. How i loved it, although I wanted and extended epilogue of Pip and Ravi fluff being together which is what they deserve, to live as the power couple they are. What I thought was gonna be a YA simple read became a complex thrilling trilogy that got me completely hooked up, 4'75/5 just shy of the 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book lacked what was so appealing about the first two in the series: a Nancy Drew style investigation by Pippa and her friends. Pip has become an anti-therapy drug user who pushes away her support system, and it’s just too much of a tone shift from the tense-yet-still-fun vibes of the last two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Be prepared for a lot of plot twists and very heavy scenes, I think the book should have trigger warnings for some people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting