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amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Classism, Death, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Infertility
doreyghc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Death of parent, Gun violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Medical content
soobooksalot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Book Of Cold Cases was one of my most-anticipated books of the year and I'm thrilled to say it lived up to expectations!
In 1977, Beth Greer was charged with the murder of two men and dubbed the Lady Killer. Though acquitted of the crimes, she was presumed guilty by the public and retreated to a reclusive life in the Greer family's Oregon mansion.
In 2017, Shea Collins is fascinated with all things true crime and runs a blog called The Book Of Cold Cases.
A chance encounter with Beth reignites Shea's interest in the Lady Killer case and she aims to solve that which has remained a mystery for 40 years.
It's one of those stories you feel like you want to Google for more background because it feels so real.
There's some excellent Gothic retro atmosphere here, mixed with a modern feel.
As with previous books by this author, there are varying timelines and gripping backstories. And a touch of paranormal creepy goodness to round out the traditional thriller.
Loved it.
Recommended!
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
martamae77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, and Pregnancy
markedwithanm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Gun violence, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Child death
midnightgarden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, Child abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Sexual assault
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Kidnapping and Blood
Minor: Abandonment
mkzach's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Alcoholism, Murder, Car accident, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Rape, and Medical trauma
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have so many conflicting feelings on this one so let's go:
Positives! I liked the dual timelines, but I definitely liked the 1970's timeline better. I think that Simone St. James' strength is definitely in period pieces, and while I know that the present day perspective is necessary for the book to work, I just liked the past timeline better. I thought that the spooky scenes were extra spooky and often made me scared to turn my light out, and that addition to the plot made things way more interesting and tragic to me. There was one character who I thought was absolutely terrifying and interesting and I enjoyed every scene with her, but I'm not going to say more than that because spoilers. I thought some parts were predictable, but not in a way that angered me, more in a way where I was glad to have my suspicions confirmed.
That's kind of where my positives end? I feel torn, because there were parts of this I really enjoyed, but then there were so many parts that I thought could've been done better if someone else had written it. Before page 140, I was considering a DNF, but I wanted to give it a chance to redeem itself, and it did, but not as much as I would have liked it to.
Also....why does every book this woman publishes have a romance with a cop??
Overall, I think people who liked The Haunting of Hill House or Haunting of Bly Manor will like this one, but it wasn't my favorite.
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Misogyny, Abandonment, Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
marchhare89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Car accident, and Gaslighting