Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Final Gambit

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

128 reviews

efarm5's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I think this has been my favorite of the series so far. I live a conclusion, especially a nice one all tied with a bow. At this point we know the characters, their flaws, their truths, their struggles, and that makes it all mean more. We see why things have to shake out the way they do/did and there’s less we don’t already know which I like. Trying to learn about Emily in the first book killed me, so I like already knowing. I love what Avery decided to do with her inheritance.
This was the first time I tried to figure out what was going to happen instead of just reading, and I couldn’t figure it out. I had some suspicions and thoughts but ultimately I didn’t see all the connections, and I like it that way.

Having everything tie into who Toby’s father is, being kidnapped by his grandfather, Eve being in on it and much more cold hearted than I thought she would be. I did not think Rebecca’s mom would be so involved, or have killed Will Blake. Honestly the Laughlin’s are trouble, they’re too involved in everything. I did doubt Alisa and I’m glad she wasn’t part of it. It was maybe too easy for Avery to beat Blake in a chess match and have his threat just disappear, but I’m ok with that. I like a happy ending and didn’t want anything to happen to Oren or anyone else.

I would love a book about Nan! She’s got some stories to tell man. And learning more about Alice would be great! And seeing Zara and Skye as girls. I’ll keep devouring whatever is given by JLB.

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crystag's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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khucc's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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justmeandmybooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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shania_siobhan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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unicorngirl's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I think, while this one is good, this book and the second pale in comparison to the first book. They’re still good though

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kkimball's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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courtneys_reading's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I enjoyed this one a lot. That being said, once again everything wrapped up perfectly so it leaves me wondering what the heck the 4th book is about.

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trips's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

this book was better paced and more cohesive than the 2nd book in the series.

Still didn't care for Avery wallowing in her two romance choices, but that's definitely just a me thing, lol. There is also a lot less of it in this book, so yay.
The stakes were high and the mystery unfolds in an entertaining, popcorn-y kinda way. The puzzles were actually more puzzley which I was happy to see, as it felt like there wasn't as much of that in the 2nd book. Not always into a random 3rd act character joining the crew in the third book of a series but this character ended up making sense to the plot, her character arc was handled well overall.

Its definitely a very cheesy but I had a good time reading this series overall. I also feel a sense of freedom, having finished it though... 😅

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ameydireads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

"The thing about strategy," he says, "is that you always have to be thinking seven moves ahead."

Not only do we have some Hawthorne secrets to unravel and puzzles to solve, there is another person calling the shots now.

Traps upon traps. And riddles upon riddles.

I don't trust Eve. She is suspicious. That’s what I thought from the start and I was right. I can’t believe she hurt Grayson like that. First it was because Eve looked so much like Emily but then she also turns out to be tricking them all. Grayson deserves so much more and three books later he still hasn’t found his happiness. I hope he will in the upcoming books.

So at the start of this story, we know Toby’s life is in danger.

It turns out Tobias Hawthorne knew from the beginning that Eve would be involved in this situation and tries to warn Avery. What bothered me the most is that even in this situation he made them solve the puzzles to find out who is keeping Toby instead of just telling them this straight away.

The ending of the previous book was good enough to end this series with. I don’t see why we have a third book. It is interesting, I’ll admit that. I didn’t mind reading about my favourite characters again. But it is not on the same level as the first two books.

“They'd been sculpted by Tobias Hawthorne, formed and forged by the billionaire's hands. They were extraordinary, and for the first time in their lives, they weren't living under the weight of his expectations.”

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