Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

73 reviews

ashleyelizabeth's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, and Child abuse

katergirl12's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Pedophilia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

alyjensen24's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, and Mental illness

cass_lit's review against another edition

3.5

For a thriller (which is not my preferred genre), I liked this. At times it felt a little convoluted because it was trying to keep all the big reveals until the final end twists, but it was a fast read so you still get the payoff sooner rather than later. It was a teeny bit too pro-cop for me at the beginning but they're ultimately not a huge part of the story. My fav part was easily the paranormal aspects!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Police brutality, and Rape

seasidefaye13's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 A murder mystery and ghost story wrapped into one, I did not expect the twist that Simone St. James had in store for me. Honestly, this book made me cry and I did not think that would happen. I was truly entranced by the main characters and the dark, traumatic journey they would go on together. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Violence, Gun violence, Alcoholism, and Grief

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Gun violence, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Bullying, and Child abuse

With thrillers like this, there are always a lot of CWs, so please check them before reading, if necessary. This book was a solid mystery, but St James's novels (of the two I have read, at least), are more about the characters and how they solve the mystery and their own traumas, rather than shocking last minute reveals. The solutions are not really that surprising. I couldn't help but comparing this to the author's book, The Broken Girls, and this one felt like a lesser (and less interesting) version. There are a LOT of surface level similarities with the character types, a spooky building, even careers of the the heroine and hero. The two main characters here were semi-decently fleshed out, but the other minor characters really weren't. I read it in literally one sitting, but more just to be done with it, rather than that I couldn't put it down. All the same, I would still give St. James another try. This was solid (and The Broken Girls was very well-done and memorable).

targrhaegar's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.0

Really intriguing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, and Kidnapping

Minor: Sexual assault

liv_camryn's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Addiction, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Car accident, Death, and Mental illness

jujusand's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Addiction, and Abandonment

pernillelsk's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Car accident

Minor: Sexual assault and Pregnancy