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lenthegreywitch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
π βππ₯πππ: 4 stars - Really enjoyed overall, maybe had a couple meh complaints, but recommend to lovers of the genres
π€ πππ‘π£ππ€π€ππ ππ€: this one started right in and you get the backstory as you go along. I was pretty hooked from the start, then intrigued about our MMC's personality the entire time. he was really quite fascinating; it takes a special sort of person to actively be one of the villains in their own story while simultaneously making me FEEL for them haha. FMC was just...wow. they were both written so well that I didn't even feel like I was reading a book about murder almost until the 3rd act. they just seemed like a regular ol' married couple, living their lives, dealing with the same bs that every married couple has to deal with when you've been together for 15+ years - but then also, *plot* lmao. entirely well written with just a few places where I was like "lol no," either because I found something too implausible or too convenient. would highly recommend!
π§ πΈπ¦πππ ππ π π: David Pittu is a new fave! his voices were absolutely impeccable - a true master of the craft. accents, pitch, whiny brat kids, annoying southern reporters haha this dude did it ALL and it was wonderful to listen to. female/femme voices were A++ IMO
πΆοΈ ππ‘πππ: no descriptive spice, though the characters engage in intercourse multiple times; and it is, actually, one of the key things that accelerates the plot
π§ πΈππ ππ πΈππ: really glad I spent time with this one; definitely going to look up more of Samantha Downing's work and for SURE more from David Pittu. A++ work all around.
π€ πππ‘π£ππ€π€ππ ππ€: this one started right in and you get the backstory as you go along. I was pretty hooked from the start, then intrigued about our MMC's personality the entire time. he was really quite fascinating; it takes a special sort of person to actively be one of the villains in their own story while simultaneously making me FEEL for them haha. FMC was just...wow. they were both written so well that I didn't even feel like I was reading a book about murder almost until the 3rd act. they just seemed like a regular ol' married couple, living their lives, dealing with the same bs that every married couple has to deal with when you've been together for 15+ years - but then also, *plot* lmao. entirely well written with just a few places where I was like "lol no," either because I found something too implausible or too convenient. would highly recommend!
π§ πΈπ¦πππ ππ π π: David Pittu is a new fave! his voices were absolutely impeccable - a true master of the craft. accents, pitch, whiny brat kids, annoying southern reporters haha this dude did it ALL and it was wonderful to listen to. female/femme voices were A++ IMO
πΆοΈ ππ‘πππ: no descriptive spice, though the characters engage in intercourse multiple times; and it is, actually, one of the key things that accelerates the plot
π§ πΈππ ππ πΈππ: really glad I spent time with this one; definitely going to look up more of Samantha Downing's work and for SURE more from David Pittu. A++ work all around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
starrfishandcoffee's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
UGH. This really could have been a good book. So much time was wasted and the narrator/the husband was such a freaking moron. I wanted to like this because it was twisty and dark and unique (how many thrillers are there about female serial killers ??)
It was just really disturbing to think abouta couple stalking murdering women and then going about their lives raising children
Eh. Could have been more of a cat and mouse trope and that would have hooked me.
It was just really disturbing to think about
Eh. Could have been more of a cat and mouse trope and that would have hooked me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Torture
jj_tj's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Infidelity, and Torture
Minor: Blood and Drug use
augustinedreams's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Torture, Suicide, Stalking, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, and Toxic relationship
alba_marie's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
3.75 rounded up.
I'm not always a mood reader, as I'm usually too focused on my library holds pile. But one of my goals this summer was to read more of my own books. I was in the mood for a dark thriller, so I chose this one, which has been on my shelf for months since I excidedly picked it up from a free book drop.
I appreciated the dark, nebulous atmosphere of husband and wife killing team. Told from the pov of the hubby, who assists his wife in the capture of the women but isn't there for the killing itself, we enter dark suburbia where this team has decided to kill to essentiallybhave better sex.
It isn't all that believable, but it is fast paced, grim, and thrilling. The husband isn't likeable. In fact, he's kind of pathetic and a bit of a doormat. The wife is a venomous viper, a terrifying black widow. It sounds cliche, and it probably is, but maybe that's what made it gripping.
Suburbia is boring, which is kind of the point of the book. They are bored, so they kill. Living in a gated community isn't as all its cracked up to be - or as safe as everyone thinks it is. I guess murder is the easy way out. Instead of admitting and problems or finding excitement in a more legal way, they've discovered they get turned on by becoming serial killers, while also unsuccessful parenting two teens.
My main complaint with the book was the ending. I enjoyed the cat and mouse chase game. But I didn't like that he got away scot free and is convinced of his innocence. He isn't innocent. He may not have killed most of them or called the shots, but he was a willing participant for a long time.... and if the ending is a clue, he isn't going to stop. .
I'm not always a mood reader, as I'm usually too focused on my library holds pile. But one of my goals this summer was to read more of my own books. I was in the mood for a dark thriller, so I chose this one, which has been on my shelf for months since I excidedly picked it up from a free book drop.
I appreciated the dark, nebulous atmosphere of husband and wife killing team. Told from the pov of the hubby, who assists his wife in the capture of the women but isn't there for the killing itself, we enter dark suburbia where this team has decided to kill to essentiallybhave better sex.
It isn't all that believable, but it is fast paced, grim, and thrilling. The husband isn't likeable. In fact, he's kind of pathetic and a bit of a doormat. The wife is a venomous viper, a terrifying black widow. It sounds cliche, and it probably is, but maybe that's what made it gripping.
Suburbia is boring, which is kind of the point of the book. They are bored, so they kill. Living in a gated community isn't as all its cracked up to be - or as safe as everyone thinks it is. I guess murder is the easy way out. Instead of admitting and problems or finding excitement in a more legal way, they've discovered they get turned on by becoming serial killers, while also unsuccessful parenting two teens.
My main complaint with the book was the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Blood and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
jessbaldwin's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
lily_peach's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Infidelity, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexism
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
A solid thriller, manages to bring something fresh to the genre, and not feel βtropeyβ. I also liked how the violence towards women was never a main part of the book, unlike with some thrillers that often have a lot of gory detail.
Great twists and a good page turner. Definitely recommend for fans of the genre.
Great twists and a good page turner. Definitely recommend for fans of the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Torture, Blood, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Violence
Minor: Vomit, Suicide, and Gun violence
cbirv's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Self harm, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Suicide, Violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Death
meeklovestoread's review
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
I'm not gonna lie this book was pretty slow for me. Meaning it just lacked the fast paced nature that I'm used to with thrillers. I almost put it down due to the lack of shock value. It felt just a slight bit boring, but I continued because I was determined and I loved Millicent as a character. And I'm glad I continued because although I thought the big twist was obvious but it's always nice to know the how. And my goodness Samantha did NOT disappoint on HOW. Everything was great. And it all tied in together. The events after the big twist were so satisfying that it saved the book for me. I was originally gonna give it 3.5/5, but I really loved how Samantha tied things together. Overall the story was great. It was entertaining too don't get me wrong I just value mini twists in my thrillers if that makes sense. I'd still recommend this book though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Infidelity
Minor: Vomit and Medical content