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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
✨ "We all did some bad things that year. Things we wish we could take back. Each of us is to blame. Just some more than most."
This book claims to be 'And Then There Were None' meets 'The Last Time I Lied'. Unfortunately, it fails to live up to such a claim and is nothing like either book.
I love locked room whodunits so you can bet the premise of this book was something right up my alley. Sadly, the execution and storytelling was sorely lacking even though I actually liked the writing.
It felt like the author tried to make this a complex multi-layer story by
Spoiler
packing multiple villains into a bland mystery (I mean... murder over cheating in exams? Seriously?)Furthermore, the characters were barely distinguishable beyond typical stereotypes and none of them had distinct personalities.
The biggest issue I had with the book was how it uses several cheap storytelling techniques.
Spoiler
E.g. Having an unknown someone narrating everything just so the story can be told, confusing perspectives, the unknown someone turning out to be some all-knowing person who witnessed everything both past and present, which begs the question of why said person simply watched the crime unfold instead of stopping it especially when the victim was her own brother, the whodunit being revealed to be some new character that only appears towards the end of the story instead of someone from the group (umm, that's not much of a whodunit, isn't it), the villain revealing how she planned and pulled everything off in a tell-all monologue etc. Of course, if we answered all of these questions then there would be no story or book.TLDR: Good writing, mediocre mystery, poor storytelling, terrible whodunit.
✨ "The end of the world looks different for different people. We all have our tipping points."
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Over 20 years ago, six students share an old, rundown house while they attend university. Shortly before the school year ends, one of them will be dead. But when they're all lured under false pretenses to another ramshackle house on an island in Scotland, they're shocked to see each other again. Soon, they find themselves alone and cut off from the outside world with only one directive: confess to which one of them killed their roommate.
Take parts of Clue and parts of And Then There Were None and you'll get They Did Bad Things. The plot twists are many and varied and in the end you won't have any idea who is behind all the trouble, present or past!
I really wanted to like this one, but I felt like it didn't come together really well. The pacing was off and sometimes hard to follow. I don't know that we ever got a satisfactory explanation to the past murder and the solution to the current dealings didn't make a whole lot of sense.
Take parts of Clue and parts of And Then There Were None and you'll get They Did Bad Things. The plot twists are many and varied and in the end you won't have any idea who is behind all the trouble, present or past!
I really wanted to like this one, but I felt like it didn't come together really well. The pacing was off and sometimes hard to follow. I don't know that we ever got a satisfactory explanation to the past murder and the solution to the current dealings didn't make a whole lot of sense.
I’m a huge fan of alternate timelines that eventually weave together to make a complete picture. That didn’t really happen here. The execution was through multiple time frames and multiple points of view. When well-executed, this approach can make for a fast-paced read that’s impossible to put down. Instead, it made the book slow and repetitive.
I’m not a fan of taglines on books. I’ve found that whenever a title has a tagline, I won’t love the book. I didn’t check with this one before I downloaded it and I wish I would have. I only started reading thrillers last year, but what I’ve come to expect is an edge of your seat, “must keep flipping pages to see what happens” feeling. Especially when “thriller” is the tagline. It was a chore turning pages because the pacing and storyline were slow.
I looked at some other reviews because I wanted to see if this book was as hard for others as it was for me. Many people liked this book, so it will be hit or miss for some readers. Overall, it fell flat and just wasn’t for me.
I’m not a fan of taglines on books. I’ve found that whenever a title has a tagline, I won’t love the book. I didn’t check with this one before I downloaded it and I wish I would have. I only started reading thrillers last year, but what I’ve come to expect is an edge of your seat, “must keep flipping pages to see what happens” feeling. Especially when “thriller” is the tagline. It was a chore turning pages because the pacing and storyline were slow.
I looked at some other reviews because I wanted to see if this book was as hard for others as it was for me. Many people liked this book, so it will be hit or miss for some readers. Overall, it fell flat and just wasn’t for me.
Thank you Net Galley & Skyhorse Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
**
This was a great easy thriller read for me. I wanted to know who killed Callum; and what their punishment would be. You see our author Lauren Forry did a great job at capturing her readers attention by pulling us in to the house where it all started 215 Caldwell Street.
**
It all started in 1995, when 6 university students moved out of their family homes and moved into 215 Caldwell street to start their freshman year. The 6 to move in were: Lorna, Hollis, Ellie, Maeve, Oliver, and of course Callum. Through reading you picked up on some tension in the house. Tension between Ellie and Oliver, Oliver and Callum, Callum and Maeve. Honestly there were points where I was amazed they didn't all just kill each other..
The end of term party ended with Callum dead, and the other 5 knowing it was one of them who must have killed him... I mean actions at the party alone speak volumes.. but they never spoke of it; and never saw each other again.
That was until they all ended up at Wolfheather house; unbeknownst to them. They all were there for personal reason. From winning a weekend away at work, to a rehab; each had their reasons to go to Wolfheather... little did they know this may be their last weekend getaway.
Someone knows it was one of them who killed Callum. This person also knows the others did nothing to prevent it; or at least turn them in to cops. I will say I never saw this ending coming... and there were a few good thrills peppered throughout this novel.
**
This was a great easy thriller read for me. I wanted to know who killed Callum; and what their punishment would be. You see our author Lauren Forry did a great job at capturing her readers attention by pulling us in to the house where it all started 215 Caldwell Street.
**
It all started in 1995, when 6 university students moved out of their family homes and moved into 215 Caldwell street to start their freshman year. The 6 to move in were: Lorna, Hollis, Ellie, Maeve, Oliver, and of course Callum. Through reading you picked up on some tension in the house. Tension between Ellie and Oliver, Oliver and Callum, Callum and Maeve. Honestly there were points where I was amazed they didn't all just kill each other..
The end of term party ended with Callum dead, and the other 5 knowing it was one of them who must have killed him... I mean actions at the party alone speak volumes.. but they never spoke of it; and never saw each other again.
That was until they all ended up at Wolfheather house; unbeknownst to them. They all were there for personal reason. From winning a weekend away at work, to a rehab; each had their reasons to go to Wolfheather... little did they know this may be their last weekend getaway.
Someone knows it was one of them who killed Callum. This person also knows the others did nothing to prevent it; or at least turn them in to cops. I will say I never saw this ending coming... and there were a few good thrills peppered throughout this novel.
They Did Bad Things by Lauren Forry is a devilish take on a closed room mystery. 20 years ago 6 people shared a house during college. After an end of the year celebration, one of the housemates ends up dead. His death is ruled an accident by the police so the 5 remaining members of the house move on with their lives. Unfortunately, someone is watching and think this group of people are more involved in the death than they let on.
Now, 20 years later each member of the house is coaxed by various means to a secluded, decrepit mansion known as Wolfheather House. Each person arrives at the mansion to discover that they were led there under false pretenses. The housemates realize they are stuck in the house, with no means to get away and no cellphone or wi-fi signal. The group is forced to examine each others’ motives and role in their roommate’s death. The person orchestrating their gathering has offered them one way out of the house, confess or die. That’s it.
This novel was creepy, atmospheric, and surprising. Dark secrets are almost always a part of closed room mysteries, but this group…WHOA they ALL have lots secrets? I did not connect with the characters because they weren’t likable. That didn’t change my opinion of the book. I am always happy when I don’t quite figure out the twist! They Did Bad Things is fast paced, pretty dark, and filled with vengeance.
It is a fairly quick read and worth it! I rated this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!
Thank you @Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an advanced copy for my review.
This book goes on sale June 2, 2020!
Now, 20 years later each member of the house is coaxed by various means to a secluded, decrepit mansion known as Wolfheather House. Each person arrives at the mansion to discover that they were led there under false pretenses. The housemates realize they are stuck in the house, with no means to get away and no cellphone or wi-fi signal. The group is forced to examine each others’ motives and role in their roommate’s death. The person orchestrating their gathering has offered them one way out of the house, confess or die. That’s it.
This novel was creepy, atmospheric, and surprising. Dark secrets are almost always a part of closed room mysteries, but this group…WHOA they ALL have lots secrets? I did not connect with the characters because they weren’t likable. That didn’t change my opinion of the book. I am always happy when I don’t quite figure out the twist! They Did Bad Things is fast paced, pretty dark, and filled with vengeance.
It is a fairly quick read and worth it! I rated this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!
Thank you @Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an advanced copy for my review.
This book goes on sale June 2, 2020!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
(2.5 stars)
Pros:
- the characters were all unlikable (besides Hollis, who we didn't see much) which made the story more interesting to read about
- the atmosphere of the story was perfect. I liked the classic clue-like set up of "who done it" with the constant rainstorm, mysterious thuds/footsteps, and mystery of why they've been brought together.
Cons:
- I wish that there had been more clues to who was responsible. It felt completely out of left field and wasn't satisfying as a conclusion
- I also wish that we were informed about why Callum was dead earlier in the book. The duel mysteries felt too dragged out, and I was confused about motivations more than I was intrigued by what was happening. I wanted to understand why they were in this hotel in the first place so I could start trying to puzzle through who brought them all together
- The reveal for the reason why Callum was murdered didn't make sense. I know the author explained why the characters thought it worth it, but I didn't see that reflected in their actions throughout the story and had a hard time buying that it was something worth murdering over. I honestly believed that his death was instead going to be linked to the Oliver/Ellie situation, which was brought up near the end
---Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for providing me with this ARC---
Pros:
- the characters were all unlikable (besides Hollis, who we didn't see much) which made the story more interesting to read about
- the atmosphere of the story was perfect. I liked the classic clue-like set up of "who done it" with the constant rainstorm, mysterious thuds/footsteps, and mystery of why they've been brought together.
Cons:
- I wish that there had been more clues to who was responsible. It felt completely out of left field and wasn't satisfying as a conclusion
- I also wish that we were informed about why Callum was dead earlier in the book. The duel mysteries felt too dragged out, and I was confused about motivations more than I was intrigued by what was happening. I wanted to understand why they were in this hotel in the first place so I could start trying to puzzle through who brought them all together
- The reveal for the reason why Callum was murdered didn't make sense. I know the author explained why the characters thought it worth it, but I didn't see that reflected in their actions throughout the story and had a hard time buying that it was something worth murdering over. I honestly believed that his death was instead going to be linked to the Oliver/Ellie situation, which was brought up near the end
---Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for providing me with this ARC---
3 Stars
This is a fun, dark, and twisty adventure that hops perspectives and time lines between 1995 and the present. Six college roommates rented a house and one of them died. Fast forward twenty years and the remaining five are all called to a remote mansion for the weekend to determine who was at fault for their roommate's death.
I really enjoyed the time hopping and only getting nuggets of the story. There are lots of gory details and twists and turns to keep you on your toes! It was also entertaining to see that they're as messed up as adults as they were as teenagers. None of them were able to overcome Callum's death and become successful in their pursuits.
I look forward to checking out Lauren Forry's other book!
A special thank you to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing, and Lauren Forry for providing me with an ARC.
This is a fun, dark, and twisty adventure that hops perspectives and time lines between 1995 and the present. Six college roommates rented a house and one of them died. Fast forward twenty years and the remaining five are all called to a remote mansion for the weekend to determine who was at fault for their roommate's death.
I really enjoyed the time hopping and only getting nuggets of the story. There are lots of gory details and twists and turns to keep you on your toes! It was also entertaining to see that they're as messed up as adults as they were as teenagers. None of them were able to overcome Callum's death and become successful in their pursuits.
I look forward to checking out Lauren Forry's other book!
A special thank you to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing, and Lauren Forry for providing me with an ARC.
2/5
In 1995, a student is found dead in his university houseshare. 20 years later, the remaining housemates are invited to an isolated hotel under false premises, seemingly to force the killer to confess.
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book and its Agatha Christie/Clue vibes but I ended up disappointed as the story played out.
Things I liked:
- The plot! This is fundamentally a good story and I kept reading because I wanted to find out who killed Callum.
Things I disliked:
- The pacing was a bit 'off' and the book felt like it oscillated between action and dull filler. When Callum's killer is finally revealed it was almost anti-climatic and glossed over.
- The characters, oh god the characters. There was potentially one likeable character in this entire book. I'm sure the author didn't intend for her characters to be likeable, but they lacked depth and relatability and it made sticking with the book hard.
Overall: a promising thriller that fails to deliver.
Thanks to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
In 1995, a student is found dead in his university houseshare. 20 years later, the remaining housemates are invited to an isolated hotel under false premises, seemingly to force the killer to confess.
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book and its Agatha Christie/Clue vibes but I ended up disappointed as the story played out.
Things I liked:
- The plot! This is fundamentally a good story and I kept reading because I wanted to find out who killed Callum.
Things I disliked:
- The pacing was a bit 'off' and the book felt like it oscillated between action and dull filler. When Callum's killer is finally revealed it was almost anti-climatic and glossed over.
- The characters, oh god the characters. There was potentially one likeable character in this entire book
Spoiler
and he dies within a few chaptersOverall: a promising thriller that fails to deliver.
Thanks to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
If Agatha Christie and Stephen King had a baby, They Did Bad Things would be it. Mysterious, creepy, and attention grabbing. Like the character in the book says, almost a real life Clue game with added goosebumps and the feeling of being watched. Definitely a book I'll be recommending!