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toorsdenote's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Rape and Child abuse
chaotically_katie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Torture, Stalking, Murder, Drug use, Cursing, Child death, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Rape, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Domestic abuse
tillyarvabelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Moderate: Stalking and Racism
Minor: Violence and Murder
pollyhall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Blood, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Story A is the main one, the one from the book summary, and I was expecting more of a locked-room mystery, but the library part is only at the beginning and then they quickly move on. There are a lot of red flags that distracted me from the obvious culprit, so I stayed on my toes the whole time, never really sure who the big bad was. I liked the characters, though the plot is definitely the main focus.
But what really set this book apart was story B, where we discover that story A is actually a book being written, and the author is corresponding with a beta reader about her work. Through these letters, we learn about the Australian author and the beta reader, who lives in Boston where story A takes place. These letters were mostly at the end of each chapter, with the beta reader giving commentary on the previous chapter. Like I said, they just cracked me up and the twists and turns that story B takes really made this murder mystery unique.
Give this one a listen if you like libraries or a story-within-a-story plot or books about writers or a classic whodunnit mystery.
Thanks to Libro.fm, Dreamscape Media, and the author for my ALC!
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence and Stalking
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
liteartha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
unfortunately, the story within a story format was a complete miss for me. the stylistic choice of presenting an author's manuscript interspersed with notes from her beta reader at the end of each chapter completely disrupted the flow of what was already not a particularly compelling mystery novel. i was so distracted by the commentary that i find it hard even now to comment on the murder mystery part of it all because it felt so... fake? almost entirely without consequence as it was presented as though "written" by the fictional author hannah tigone and not sulari gentill.
thank you to netgalley and poisoned pen press for providing this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
iamnita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Now, the main storyline: I reflect on this read and wonder whether that storyline was kind of meh - because what kept me flipping was this other storyline. I felt like there was so much eating and drinking and just general hanging around that I'm not sure much happened until it all came together.
Now, the ending: I found this pretty weak and the motives pretty meh. I don't like that all of a sudden there was this HUGE villain of a character that you'd never seen before - it kind of came out of nowhere.
I do give this 4 stars because the format was something. And despite there being pandemic references, it is not so in-your-face that for those triggered it will upset the masses.
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Death and Violence
motleybooksandtea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence and Stalking
theoceanrose's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Violence and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape