Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol
I was constantly speculating who the murderer(s) might be, and what twist the author would throw in.
I also found the epilogue to give me more answers than questions. Oh well, still a great read!
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Drug use
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Death of parent
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Mariana is our protagonist, a group therapist that I found to be unreliable but empathetic as narrator, a winning combination in the genre. I personally appreciated her healthy dose of suspicion and was intrigued by the way she interacted with others through a therapist's lens, interpreting behaviors and motivations. Did I doubt every person she interacted with, including her? YES of course I did. So naturally, I was partially correct at the end while also being wildly not correct, which I enjoyed immensely. I appreciate the author for his sleight of hand and the way he manages what I notice as a reader to lead me astray.
The last 10% of the book was a wild ride. At first, I was irritated at where I thought the big reveal was headed and started to adjust my expectations for the finale and the book as a whole (thrillers more than any other genre hinge on the ending for me in terms of how I feel towards it). Luckily, I was being tricked ~again~ and a quick shift left me surprised and much more satisfied.
I was impressed by the range of the audiobook narrator with sinister interludes from the serial killer's perspective from a different voice actor. I liked the way this obscured his identity by separating the main performance from the way his writings were read, i.e. I wasn't able to match voices to guess who he is.
Finally, I loved the unexpected The Silent Patient tie-in, a brief easter egg that was clever and enjoyable while remaining subtle enough to not detract from the reading experience if you aren't familiar with the author's other book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Stalking, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent