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adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping
Minor: Pregnancy
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this thriller and liked that the plot twist is somewhat hinted at in the beginning, but you read the entire book hoping your predictions are wrong, the book is pretty dark and twisted. It was a little slow in the beginning, basically an extended version of the blurb - Laurel meeting Floyd and his daughter who looks exactly like Ellie. But the story picks up around part three and things get interesting. I liked the change of POVs, each one gave a different vibe to the story. Overall, a quick and easy read, would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Stalking
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:
No
I wanted to like this more. The setting and the characters had so much potential, but I just felt that they both fell a little flat. I felt like for Ellie to be treated so cruelly, and to die such a tragic death, the retelling of her experience didnt trigger any emotions for me (I cry too much when reading, so I know im not emotionless haha!). The narration spoke of both Laurel and Ellies sorrow, but I didn't feel it. I couldn't form a connection with the characters. Perhaps it was the pacing (I found it very slow, a slow burn suspense essentially), or maybe if the author had omitted Ellies initial 1st person POV near the beginning when she encountered Noelle, it would have been a different experience? Perhaps this little bit of info essentially made it predictable for me?
I will say that, when all is said and done, I didn't have to force myself to finish. I still enjoyed reading this book, I just don't think it hit any extraordinary notes to have me overly excited about it when I finished. I would read another of these authors' books to see if I can connect more next time around.
I will say that, when all is said and done, I didn't have to force myself to finish. I still enjoyed reading this book, I just don't think it hit any extraordinary notes to have me overly excited about it when I finished. I would read another of these authors' books to see if I can connect more next time around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Suicide, Murder
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I guessed the “twist” very early on. Still a good read and worth finishing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Grief
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I finished this book in one sitting. It was very good, albeit predictable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm not an extensive reader of the thriller genre, so I wasn't sure what I'd be getting with this book. Maybe because I'm a relative newcomer, I didn't guess the "big shocking thing" until it was on top of me, right there on the page (or in my ear, as it were - I read this as an audiobook), and it WAS shocking. I guessed a few of the further twists and turns, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending - I think sometimes in these sorts of books, once the mystery is finally, fully revealed, the author doesn't know how to bring it to a close, but that wasn't the case here. I'll definitely seek out more Lisa Jewell!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Suicide, Violence
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Death, Murder