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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
Jean Taylor’s husband has just died in a tragic accident, and reporters are beating down her door to get in an exclusive interview. Her husband was previously a person of interest in a middle child case, and everyone is hoping that Jean will give new information into the case. I found this to be a little confusing at first – I found it unclear as to whether or not the husband was alive or not and I was especially confused about what the interest in him was from the media. For me, it took too long to tie things together. I felt like the confusion could have easily made me stop listening to this.
This book SOUNDS really thrilling: a woman and her husband has been through hell and back after he is accused of kidnapping and murdering a 2 year old little girl. The widow, Jean, has always stood by her husband during these rough times, never saying more than she needs to. But now that he has died, will her story change?
Of course, this book has been compared to Gone Girl/Girl on the Train and it didn't come close for me. I loved that the story was told in different perspectives (the Widow, the Journalist, the Detective), but unfortunately these characters were very flat. All we know about Jean is that she's a 'young' hairdresser that has a secret (and needed an Idiot's Guide to use Facebook), Glen, the husband worked at a bank and spends lots of time on the internet, the journalist is out for fresh story blood, and the detective just can't let the case go. There is very little development, history, or background to any of these characters. At one point, one of the detectives muses about her history as a teen having affairs with married men and all I could think was, "and your point...?" And that's all we ever know about her past! One sentence about her history of flirting with married men. Also, for some reason Bob Sparkes can't let this case go, has to take a bunch of leave and see a counselor, but it's never fully explained WHY this case rides his back for four years compared to all of the other cases he has been involved it.
The flat characters could be why my largest pet peeve of this book was born, and that's the fact that nearly EVERY time a character is speaking to another character, they say the other person's name. It could be just the two characters in a room or on the phone, but nearly every line of dialogue will say their name, sometimes even twice.
If the characters had been more memorable, I'm not sure this would have been necessary. Also, Bob is one of the main focal points of this novel, but he is still being referred to as his full name close to the end of the book, despite everyone knowing him as Bob or Sparkes already.
I read the 324 pages of this book waiting for a big twist or reveal (because I thought I had it figured out fairly quickly), and unfortunately it ended up feeling like I read 324 pages just to hear it be admitted.
Sigh. I feel bad giving negative reviews, I just wish that this great, gritty concept had been well executed.
Of course, this book has been compared to Gone Girl/Girl on the Train and it didn't come close for me. I loved that the story was told in different perspectives (the Widow, the Journalist, the Detective), but unfortunately these characters were very flat. All we know about Jean is that she's a 'young' hairdresser that has a secret (and needed an Idiot's Guide to use Facebook), Glen, the husband worked at a bank and spends lots of time on the internet, the journalist is out for fresh story blood, and the detective just can't let the case go. There is very little development, history, or background to any of these characters. At one point, one of the detectives muses about her history as a teen having affairs with married men and all I could think was, "and your point...?" And that's all we ever know about her past! One sentence about her history of flirting with married men. Also, for some reason Bob Sparkes can't let this case go, has to take a bunch of leave and see a counselor, but it's never fully explained WHY this case rides his back for four years compared to all of the other cases he has been involved it.
The flat characters could be why my largest pet peeve of this book was born, and that's the fact that nearly EVERY time a character is speaking to another character, they say the other person's name. It could be just the two characters in a room or on the phone, but nearly every line of dialogue will say their name, sometimes even twice.
"He's still out there, Jude," Sparkes said finally.
"What about Bella?"
"I don't know, Jude. I'm haunted by her."
"Hello, Dawn. It's Bob Sparkes. No, no news exactly, but I have a couple of questions. I need to talk to you, Dawn"
If the characters had been more memorable, I'm not sure this would have been necessary. Also, Bob is one of the main focal points of this novel, but he is still being referred to as his full name close to the end of the book, despite everyone knowing him as Bob or Sparkes already.
I read the 324 pages of this book waiting for a big twist or reveal (because I thought I had it figured out fairly quickly), and unfortunately it ended up feeling like I read 324 pages just to hear it be admitted.
Sigh. I feel bad giving negative reviews, I just wish that this great, gritty concept had been well executed.
I had a really hard time getting through this book. The story line was interesting but I feel like it could've been a short story. Way too much filler. And please, please, STOP REFERRING TO BOOKS AS THE NEXT GONE GIRL! This book was ok, it was by no means a thriller :-/
Meh.
This book is not particularly well written and comes across a bit... cold. There are several point of views at various stages, some thrown in without enough development, just to move the plot in a calculating way. There was little sympathy or care for anyone.
The main character, the "widow" of the title, comes across like an 80 year old woman, which I think was by design? Regardless, it is meant to take place in 2010, and yet this 40 year old is so sheltered that she can't operate a laptop or mobile phone? What?
Mild spoilers?
This book is not particularly well written and comes across a bit... cold. There are several point of views at various stages, some thrown in without enough development, just to move the plot in a calculating way. There was little sympathy or care for anyone.
The main character, the "widow" of the title, comes across like an 80 year old woman, which I think was by design? Regardless, it is meant to take place in 2010, and yet this 40 year old is so sheltered that she can't operate a laptop or mobile phone? What?
Mild spoilers?
Spoiler
If you're looking for a twist, you will be very disappointed. You will invent much better twists in your head, hoping for some kind of payoff, to make reading this worth it, but it will never come. What a grim "thriller".
4.5 stars would be better. Hard to put down. Great for a wet weekend. Another first novel by an author. I seem to gravitate to them.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
mysterious
fast-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 much do you know about your spouse? How far would you go for your spouse? Vouch for them, no questions asked...? Very well written, had perspectives of a few characters and I really was unsure through the whole book.
Not even sure where I got this book but I did enjoy it.