Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry

9 reviews

mmarquis1158's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I had guessed just about every scenario for the plot twist except for the actual plot twist! I was shocked. Finished in 3 sittings which is very fast for me. Such a good read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Medical trauma

Minor: Vomit

midnightrose_reads's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry is a taut psychological thriller about a woman named Kate, who returns after being missing for 11 years; and who may or may not have been in a cult. Told in alternating timelines and with different POV’s from Kate’s husband Scott, from their daughter together Abby, Scott’s new wife Meredith, and Kate herself in a past timeline. A wild ride!

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo, Lauren Ezzo, and Amy McFadden.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Medical trauma, Blood, Torture, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Vomit, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Sexual content

mrb123's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, Slavery, Rape, Self harm, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, and Violence

killmoore_'s review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Okay. I almost didn't finish this.. with only 20ish pages left. I was infuriated. Was the book amazing? Yes, and beautifully written despite being absolutely devastating and incredibly frustrating at times. A quick, tense read that I thought I had figured out (and was mad), made me think something amazing was about to happen (I literally hollered), then pissed me off all over again. 

Check your trigger warnings. Be prepared to be livid. Meredith is one of the most despicable fictional characters ever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Confinement, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Child death, Gaslighting, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse

thatbookmarkbabe's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

I was wrestling between a 3 and 4 star rating for this one, as I literally tore through it in a day. After reflecting more on it, I think that the book could have benefitted from some more pages that would have better justified and explained some of the characters' actions throughout, and wrapped up the narrative better in the end. So much is kind of left hanging and the book had so much action in the last 10% that could have been resolved better. I also think coming right off of The Last Housewife, which I really loved, made this one a bit less impactful for me.

I would say if you are looking for a short book with an interesting premise, you should give this one a try.

Spoilers ahead:

-I felt like Meredith's character served no real purpose (aside from maybe a voice of reason? But this could have been anyone really, even Dean) and would have rather heard from Scott
-I really wish Kate's indoctrination was more fleshed out. I felt like it went from "i'm writing this story" to "i'm leaving everything behind for you" real fast
-Kate's "then" narrative doesn't really seem to line up with her actions later in the book (kidnapping Abbi and getting back in contact with Ray/Abner). You could see her start to become disillusioned with him after Willow, Beckah and Sam died, as well as encouraging Margo to leave with her and the babies.... and then goes back? I mean I get its probably complicated, but it just didn't match and was pretty jarring 
-Also she was so mad at Ray for killing people and tricking her... but slept with him willingly which I was confused about 
-Scott alludes to hiding something and I thought it was going to be some big twist and then ended up being kind of inconsequential (as with the online forums, like who left the death threat?)
-A few glaring issues of pure stupidity as others have mentioned: not looking into a sketchy "religious organization" that Kate was getting more and more involved with when she disappeared, letting her stay in the house instead of trying to help her adjust and be evaluated mentally in a safe place, Scott letting Abbi go with Kate
-I wish we got to find out more about what happened to other members, what happens to Kate, Shiloh & Ray, etc
-I was pissed that Dean actually let Abbi get kidnapped

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Torture, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gun violence

Minor: Vomit, Animal death, Addiction, and Death of parent

yuyuv's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, and Confinement

minimicropup's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

1.5

Main POVs: It’s hard to define these characters by anything beyond their circumstances.

• A discontent journalist who married young and recently had a child. They are starting to feel stifled (a mid-life crisis?). They feel there’s something more for them beyond just parenting and spousing. In pursuit of this newfound dream, they go missing.
• A widow who met and married a person from a grief support group (the one whose spouse went missing). They are trying to support their spouse and teenage stepchild. 
• The teen stepchild. They were too young to really remember their missing parent and the circumstances of where they went. Though polite and respectful, they don’t seem to like the stepparent – maybe thinks they’re trying too hard?

 

Atmosphere 🫥: Almost non-existent. Simplistic writing with flat setting and narrative; nothing drew me in to the story because of the way it was delivered.

• Set in California, but it could be anywhere. Very little description of setting and people. “The” syndrome (“the compound”, “the office”, “the house”).

 

Cred Rating 🥸: Plausible to ridiculous. 

• The dialog and character decision overall were unrealistic and robotic…and often infuriating. 
• Cult recruitment, manipulation, and brainwashing may be on the realistic side. 

 

Growls and Howls 🐺: 

• Very little character development. I can barely assign them traits beyond “nice”, “sometimes nice", "rarely nice".
• The stepparent has good intentions but is met with polite indifference by their stepchild and childish rages from their spouse. They basically think, “I’ll just keep supporting my husband while his once-missing mute wife is in the other room and he’s pining for her. I can’t wait to help rehabilitate her with him. I wish he would hug me and sleep in the same room with me. He must be stressed? I’ll make an extra big breakfast tomorrow for everyone!” I was wondering if we’d find out she’s a polygamist or was in a relationship with the wife at some point. I think we were over 75% in before she was like “wait, now that his first wife is back, is it possible he will want to be with her instead? Is that why he won’t touch me anymore?” 
• The role of the FBI and law enforcement was weird. Would they really orchestrate putting a minor in danger with NO ONE else knowing or approving just to gain an additional charge? 
• This story felt like a cheesy example in a high school psych class of how cults happen. Our MC seems to acknowledge the “textbook” points about this charismatic leader then continues to go along with it all, and I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works (isn’t the whole deal that you don’t realize it’s just charm with smoke and mirrors?) 

 

Reading Journey 😣: Car engine turns over but won’t start. 

 

Mood Reading Match-Up:

• Cult recruitment and lifestyle
• Family drama centering on return of a missing member
• A quick, simple story with a bit of “fight for your life” trope

 

Vibes: 🙄🥱😑

 

Content Heads-Up: Extreme religion/cults, torture, confinement, and emotional abuse

 

Format: Kindle Unlimited

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Murder

Minor: Kidnapping

beckyremillard's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Kate went missing over a decade ago. Her keys were left in her car and her husband and young daughter had no clues as to where she went. 

Now, Kate has returned with an infant and very few details on where she had been for the past eleven years. 

This book was fine and held my attention, but there was nothing unpredictable about it. It was interesting that the perspectives included Kate in the past, and the  daughter and the husband’s new wife in the present. 

The cult stuff was interesting but between that and nobody believing Meredith even when she had evidence, I was getting frustrated while reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Child abuse, Death, Torture, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Self harm

Cult

julietmeiling's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Child abuse