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norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Abandonment, Death, Addiction, Infertility, Stalking, Murder, Medical content, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Cancer, Confinement, Dementia, Gun violence, Violence, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Terminal illness
jen1804's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is getting a 4.5/5⭐️ from me! I was really pleasantly surprised by this story as I bought it on the cheap trying to round up a The Works online order to qualify for free delivery.
The book is set in modern day times, but with one key dystopian-style difference. When a person commits a crime, if the victim (or victim’s family if victim is RIP) chooses to press charges, instead of going to prison, a cell is installed in the home of the victim/family where the perpetrator will live out their sentence instead. This was introduced due to the prison system within this world failing/becoming overrun population wise. The idea behind it is a kind of restorative justice, rehabilitation, coming face to face with the consequences of your actions thing.
It’s a really interesting concept and obviously one which does not come without its cons as well as its pros, and I liked that these were acknowledged within the book too. i.e. prisoners becoming victims of abuse whilst they’re essentially under the care of the person they’d wronged, relationships forming between the victim and prisoner, is it more of a punishment to the victim than the perpetrator if they’re forced to live with them under their own roof? The fact that many people will choose not to press charges because they don’t want the burden of housing the perpetrator, therefore crime rates grow as perps believe they’ll go unpunished.
The story on the whole is a murder mystery, it starts with a cell being installed in our FMC Hannah’s home, to house the man who’s been charged with her husband’s murder. Clues are discovered along the way that all may not be as it seems and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact the story kept me guessing the whole time, with decent twists throughout. It is well written and there is also a small romance narrative intertwined which I really enjoyed as it’s not often I get that from mystery books.
Part of me wasn’t sure whether to give it a 4.5 or a 5, because I’m sure there’s probably some aspects which maybe on reflection were a bit irrelevant to the plot and whilst the ending was good, I think the ‘one year later’ chapter was short and rushed and could have been tied up even better. But regardless I would definitely recommend!
Satisfactory ending? Yes
The book is set in modern day times, but with one key dystopian-style difference. When a person commits a crime, if the victim (or victim’s family if victim is RIP) chooses to press charges, instead of going to prison, a cell is installed in the home of the victim/family where the perpetrator will live out their sentence instead. This was introduced due to the prison system within this world failing/becoming overrun population wise. The idea behind it is a kind of restorative justice, rehabilitation, coming face to face with the consequences of your actions thing.
It’s a really interesting concept and obviously one which does not come without its cons as well as its pros, and I liked that these were acknowledged within the book too. i.e. prisoners becoming victims of abuse whilst they’re essentially under the care of the person they’d wronged, relationships forming between the victim and prisoner, is it more of a punishment to the victim than the perpetrator if they’re forced to live with them under their own roof? The fact that many people will choose not to press charges because they don’t want the burden of housing the perpetrator, therefore crime rates grow as perps believe they’ll go unpunished.
The story on the whole is a murder mystery, it starts with a cell being installed in our FMC Hannah’s home, to house the man who’s been charged with her husband’s murder. Clues are discovered along the way that all may not be as it seems and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact the story kept me guessing the whole time, with decent twists throughout. It is well written and there is also a small romance narrative intertwined which I really enjoyed as it’s not often I get that from mystery books.
Part of me wasn’t sure whether to give it a 4.5 or a 5, because I’m sure there’s probably some aspects which maybe on reflection were a bit irrelevant to the plot and whilst the ending was good, I think the ‘one year later’ chapter was short and rushed and could have been tied up even better. But regardless I would definitely recommend!
Satisfactory ending? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Stalking
Minor: Infertility, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
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