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rhyzkneez's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, and Violence
julesreadsalot's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
brenxbee's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Stalking, Death, and Forced institutionalization
minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
2.5
Narration: đ
Okay, except for the male voices. Narrator tried to deepen their voice too much and came off extremely cartoonish.
Atmosphere: đ
Claustrophobic, confusing, very in the MCâs mind (suitable for the plot).
Imagination Smasher: This author committed a major offenceâŠthey let imagination bloom then stomped on it. Easily could have included location and unique house details earlier in the story because for whatever reason in my mind ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE IN A LAS VEGAS SUBURB WHEN THE AUTHOR DID THAT AND THAT IS NOT WHERE THEY WERE THE WHOLE TIME, NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Imagination Smasher: This author committed a major offenceâŠthey let imagination bloom then stomped on it. Easily could have included location and unique house details earlier in the story because for whatever reason in my mind ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE IN A LAS VEGAS SUBURB WHEN THE AUTHOR DID THAT AND THAT IS NOT WHERE THEY WERE THE WHOLE TIME, NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Main POV: đ
Our MC comes across as sweet, patient, self-doubting, and caring. They recently experienced unexpected trauma at work and are doing their best to cope while their support network expects some quick-fix. They have a good sense of self, but recent events involving their brother-in-law and his string of Dateline NBC worthy relationships have led them to doubt their safety around him. They view his latest girlfriend as a potential victim and are making it their lifeâs mission to save her.
Cred Rating: đ
Plausible interpersonal dynamics. People are guilt-parenting, getting gaslighted by loved ones, intruded on by family with no boundaries, and staying in toxic relationships. The ending was a fail to me. Villain droning on about their plan⊠a far-fetched long-con with a shaky motive.
ShowânâTell: đ
Telling, and I want it to stop because itâs too over-the-top. I GET IT. Like someone showing a green crayon but getting sidetracked over it not really being green because itâs called seagreen, so maybe itâs blue, even though it looks green, because the sea is blue, but maybe sea green doesnât mean blue.
Growls and Howls: đș
-OTT âMenâ vs âWomenâ trope
-Off-plot guilt-parenting of a 6 year old: kid whipping a ball against the house so everyone lives with a headache and tension bc he wont stop when they ask. They let him torment the cats so they have to hide. When heâs being bossy it gets chuckles.
-Lazy cliffhangers via dialog delays. A question is asked but we get a paragraph of how the character feels and reminding us of very recent plot points before we hear the answer to the question. Or the 6-year old interrupts and they just go quiet instead of redirecting him.
-On a similar note: spoon-feeding of recurring plot points. Did the author think their readers took month long breaks between chapters?
Reading Journey: đ¶
Straight road with many sudden sharp turns. Why did they build it this way? Are we there yet?
Potential Good Match if you like stories with:
-Gaslighting
-Family drama centred around emotional incest and trauma bonding
-Semi-unreliable narrator (all the men think sheâs nuts but sheâs pretty sure sheâs not trope)
-Whodunnits
-Amateur sleuthing
-Deep in the MCâs every thought narratives
-Infuriating husband trope
-villain monologues and âscooby doo mysteryâ type conclusions
Vibes: đ€Șđ€đ
Content Heads-Up: Depictions of workplace violence involving a firearm.
Format: Audible
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Mass/school shootings
ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Murder, and Mental illness
Moderate: Blood
jasmine256's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Gaslighting, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death, and Mass/school shootings
liferhi_inspired's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
âïžâïžâïžâïž 4/5 Stars
đ 3rd Person POV from Elisa & Stalker; Check Triggers
This was a pretty solid domestic thriller. We learn from the very first chapter that thereâs something not quite right, which is only intensified by Elisaâs concerns about her brother-in-law and his missing fiancĂ©. To complicate issues, we also realize that Elisa is battling her own mental illness, which has us and all of the other characters of this story questioning her view of reality.
The gaslighting in this book is is pretty heavy at time, which had me wanting to scream at these characters from time to time. And donât get me started on Elisaâs husband Harris⊠I have so much rage towards him.
And while I wonât spoil anything for you, the last chapter had my jaw on the floor. There were quite a few twists along the way, but that last one I never saw coming.
đ 3rd Person POV from Elisa & Stalker; Check Triggers
This was a pretty solid domestic thriller. We learn from the very first chapter that thereâs something not quite right, which is only intensified by Elisaâs concerns about her brother-in-law and his missing fiancĂ©. To complicate issues, we also realize that Elisa is battling her own mental illness, which has us and all of the other characters of this story questioning her view of reality.
The gaslighting in this book is is pretty heavy at time, which had me wanting to scream at these characters from time to time. And donât get me started on Elisaâs husband Harris⊠I have so much rage towards him.
And while I wonât spoil anything for you, the last chapter had my jaw on the floor. There were quite a few twists along the way, but that last one I never saw coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Mental illness
Moderate: Death
beckyremillard's review against another edition
dark
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
4.75
Elisa is suspicious of her brother in law, Josh. He has a concerning history with women (i.e. dead wife and missing fiancĂ©e). Now heâs dating a new woman shortly after his fiancĂ©e disappears and Elisa is worried about what might happen to her.
I loved this book. I finished it so quickly and Iâm definitely looking forward to future books from this author.
I wouldnât say there are necessarily huge twists in this book. Rachelâs involvement in certain aspects may not exactly be expected, but I knew from the beginning she was involved. Rachel and Josh were pretty much who I expected them to be.
I loved this book. I finished it so quickly and Iâm definitely looking forward to future books from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Blood, Gaslighting, and Stalking
ellynicholem's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship