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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. It started strong, but the middle was a bit convoluted and slow in parts and didn’t always hold my interest, but the end was good. Not Karin’s best but I wanted to read it before I watch the series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A mother who will do anything to protect her daughter Andy; loads of secrets that can change lives; expected a bit more 'darkness'; overall I did enjoy it.
This was a little hard to follow at times with the time jumping and character names. Definitely some twists I didn’t see coming, but overall this one didn’t really land for me.
Y'all.......this is one of the only times I have ever not felt confident enough with my feelings regarding a book to not assign it an immediate rating.
First, I have to say that to me, Karin Slaughter, especially her standalones, are usually brilliant. She is not afraid to go to dark places and put her characters through the most intense Hell you can possibly experience. So, while I didn't find this overall story amazing, I can still appreciate the journey. But my exasperation throughout this book, primarily with both of the female main characters was so insanely intense, that it affect my ability to enjoy this story immensely.
First, let me give you a brief, and very vague, summary.
This is told in two timelines. In the present day, it follows our main character Andrea who, at 31, is still struggling to "find herself." After a failed stint in New York, she is back in her Georgia hometown with her mother, Laura, who always seems perfectly put together. A well-respected speech therapist and overall beloved member of the community, no one would ever suspect that Laura is hiding a massive secret.
But one day, as Andrea and Laura are dining in the mall, a random act of violence puts Andrea in danger and Laura springs into action, showing a very different side to herself than Andrea has ever seen. And this leads to a chain reaction that puts Andrea on the run, both for her safety and for answers.
Then, we get a past timeline from 1986. I literally don't want to say anything about this timeline for risk of spoilers. I may include some more information below, so be wary.
Okay, so let's get into it.
Andrea is possibly one of the most frustrating characters I have ever read, because for roughly the entirety of book, she was basically useless. How you ask?
First, whilst the mall event was occurring, Andrea does not fight or flee. She freezes. She does absolutely nothing. Throughout the whole event, from beginning to end, she remains entirely still, even as her mother comes to her aid unable to move, unable to speak, unable to be of any functionality whatsoever.
Then, at the hospital, while being questioned by the police, she says not one word. This is not only at the advice of her lawyer stepfather, but because she, almost literally, can't speak. She is so in her own head, that she cannot formulate responses.
Later, when a second terrifying event occurs, the one that ends up being a true catalyst for what happens later, Andrea seems to prove her worth by knocking out her mother's attacker. Only to...you guess it....go absolutely completely dumb. Her mother, again, instantly takes charge, but all Andrea can do is think.. "I killed him.." like an absolute idiot. She just loses all ability to function. Her mother is desperately trying to relay instructions to her, get her to move, but she just fucking sits there. I was so furious I literally gesticulated wildly and practically shouted because I could not understand what he fuck her problem was?
And, did I mention when she finally meets someone who might be able to help her she..once again...cannot form coherent thoughts or sentences? Even the person comments on her inability to finish a sentence.
Literally useless. I am so flabbergasted by this choice of character because it seems she is beyond a normal amount if shock or incapacitation that might occur during shocking events. It is mind boggling. I do not know why Slaughter choose to make Andrea this way. I am not sure if she was trying to make her realistic, but to me, this was borderline unrealistic simply because of how unreactive and soft-minded she is. Like she literally just succumbs to panic and shock constantly.
Now, let's talk about the past timeline. Again, I don't really want to delve too deeply into it, but I had a hard time connecting with this timeline or caring about it. At first, I felt as if we were plunged into this timeline at an awkward point, so I had to quickly connect the dots and follow what we were doing and why. There definitely could have been an easier transition here.
Then, even though I grasped the overall story arc of the past plotline (it was very, Manson "take down the man" type of thing which.....give me a break), I again found myself completely infuriated with our female lead protagonist as she was completely weak-willed as well up until the very breaking point, and it was only because of two main events that she even chose to break the spell over her to begin with. It was embarrassing, frustrating, exasperating and just so ridiculous.
I really wish Karin Slaughter and gone in a different direction with this story, especially the past timeline. It just.....really, really, didn't work for me. And it didn't fully explain, in my opinion, Laura's capabilities in the present. Here I was thinking that she had been some type of mercenary or things of that nature but in reality, she had just been a victim of a paranoid cult leader who hounded self-defense into his sheeple.
Ugh. My irritation with this book is so goddam profound, I am not sure I can give this a high rating, even though, as always, Slaughter's writing is great, and it pulls you in and keeps you going.
First, I have to say that to me, Karin Slaughter, especially her standalones, are usually brilliant. She is not afraid to go to dark places and put her characters through the most intense Hell you can possibly experience. So, while I didn't find this overall story amazing, I can still appreciate the journey. But my exasperation throughout this book, primarily with both of the female main characters was so insanely intense, that it affect my ability to enjoy this story immensely.
First, let me give you a brief, and very vague, summary.
This is told in two timelines. In the present day, it follows our main character Andrea who, at 31, is still struggling to "find herself." After a failed stint in New York, she is back in her Georgia hometown with her mother, Laura, who always seems perfectly put together. A well-respected speech therapist and overall beloved member of the community, no one would ever suspect that Laura is hiding a massive secret.
But one day, as Andrea and Laura are dining in the mall, a random act of violence puts Andrea in danger and Laura springs into action, showing a very different side to herself than Andrea has ever seen. And this leads to a chain reaction that puts Andrea on the run, both for her safety and for answers.
Then, we get a past timeline from 1986. I literally don't want to say anything about this timeline for risk of spoilers. I may include some more information below, so be wary.
Okay, so let's get into it.
Andrea is possibly one of the most frustrating characters I have ever read, because for roughly the entirety of book, she was basically useless. How you ask?
First, whilst the mall event was occurring, Andrea does not fight or flee. She freezes. She does absolutely nothing. Throughout the whole event, from beginning to end, she remains entirely still, even as her mother comes to her aid unable to move, unable to speak, unable to be of any functionality whatsoever.
Then, at the hospital, while being questioned by the police, she says not one word. This is not only at the advice of her lawyer stepfather, but because she, almost literally, can't speak. She is so in her own head, that she cannot formulate responses.
Later, when a second terrifying event occurs, the one that ends up being a true catalyst for what happens later, Andrea seems to prove her worth by knocking out her mother's attacker. Only to...you guess it....go absolutely completely dumb. Her mother, again, instantly takes charge, but all Andrea can do is think.. "I killed him.." like an absolute idiot. She just loses all ability to function. Her mother is desperately trying to relay instructions to her, get her to move, but she just fucking sits there. I was so furious I literally gesticulated wildly and practically shouted because I could not understand what he fuck her problem was?
And, did I mention when she finally meets someone who might be able to help her she..once again...cannot form coherent thoughts or sentences? Even the person comments on her inability to finish a sentence.
Literally useless. I am so flabbergasted by this choice of character because it seems she is beyond a normal amount if shock or incapacitation that might occur during shocking events. It is mind boggling. I do not know why Slaughter choose to make Andrea this way. I am not sure if she was trying to make her realistic, but to me, this was borderline unrealistic simply because of how unreactive and soft-minded she is. Like she literally just succumbs to panic and shock constantly.
Now, let's talk about the past timeline. Again, I don't really want to delve too deeply into it, but I had a hard time connecting with this timeline or caring about it. At first, I felt as if we were plunged into this timeline at an awkward point, so I had to quickly connect the dots and follow what we were doing and why. There definitely could have been an easier transition here.
Then, even though I grasped the overall story arc of the past plotline (it was very, Manson "take down the man" type of thing which.....give me a break), I again found myself completely infuriated with our female lead protagonist as she was completely weak-willed as well up until the very breaking point, and it was only because of two main events that she even chose to break the spell over her to begin with. It was embarrassing, frustrating, exasperating and just so ridiculous.
I really wish Karin Slaughter and gone in a different direction with this story, especially the past timeline. It just.....really, really, didn't work for me. And it didn't fully explain, in my opinion, Laura's capabilities in the present. Here I was thinking that she had been some type of mercenary or things of that nature but in reality, she had just been a victim of a paranoid cult leader who hounded self-defense into his sheeple.
Ugh. My irritation with this book is so goddam profound, I am not sure I can give this a high rating, even though, as always, Slaughter's writing is great, and it pulls you in and keeps you going.
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
girl i would’ve done the same thing for a tall hottie
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2018; William Morrow/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
The novel started out with a Slaughter bang, but as the novel unfolded I fund myself disappointed. This one reminded me of The Good Daughter (the other Slaughter book I was a bit disappointed with). After the initial great start the story starts to fall apart and no amount of Slaughter magic could fix it. Did Slaughter get bored of the story, or did the editor? It wasn't just that it felt unfinished in the middle but more like five different ideas were sewed up together. If you have not read a Slaughter novel, please do not start with this one!
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
2018; William Morrow/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
The novel started out with a Slaughter bang, but as the novel unfolded I fund myself disappointed. This one reminded me of The Good Daughter (the other Slaughter book I was a bit disappointed with). After the initial great start the story starts to fall apart and no amount of Slaughter magic could fix it. Did Slaughter get bored of the story, or did the editor? It wasn't just that it felt unfinished in the middle but more like five different ideas were sewed up together. If you have not read a Slaughter novel, please do not start with this one!
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Review ✨
#qotd: if you could name yourself, what would it be??
This was probably my favorite k slaughter novel to date.
It took about 120 pages to really get into but once I got into it, shit was MOVING.
I was totally convinced of the first “twist” and totally right but also totally okay with that.
I loved how it read more as a psychological thriller with not so much action and more character based thriller with internal dialogue.
I’d love to see this Karin more.
I always love “culty” books and slaughter did such a great job making you really believe the inner workings of this cult.
My Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
2d
#qotd: if you could name yourself, what would it be??
This was probably my favorite k slaughter novel to date.
It took about 120 pages to really get into but once I got into it, shit was MOVING.
I was totally convinced of the first “twist” and totally right but also totally okay with that.
I loved how it read more as a psychological thriller with not so much action and more character based thriller with internal dialogue.
I’d love to see this Karin more.
I always love “culty” books and slaughter did such a great job making you really believe the inner workings of this cult.
My Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
2d
dark
emotional
fast-paced