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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I received a copy of Thicker Than Water from Allen and Unwin New Zealand to review. I've never read a book by Brigid Kemmerer before.
I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book but it wasn't this. I kind of
thought it would be Thomas and Charlotte trying to figure out what really happened to his mother, maybe finding her killer and falling for each other along the way. That wasn't even half of it.
I don't know why I thought Thomas was innocent when everything pointed to him being guilty but I did. I felt like it would be too easy for him to be the killer. I liked Thomas, he was funny. And considering everything he was going through, all the secrets that he discovered, he never gave up.
Charlotte had to put up with a lot too. The way her family treated her like she was a child. Ugh, and her grandmother! I think I would have blown up at them if that was my family. Despite everything she was told by her family about Thomas she obviously saw something in him and chose to go against her family's wishes and kept seeing him.
I couldn't believe how many people in that town treated him like a murderer before he'd even been charged. Okay, so it did look bad but innocent until proven guilty right? Apparently not for the people in this town and especially the cops. I think they were worst of all.
I didn't see on the back of the book that this was a paranormal story so the direction it went in with Thomas's family really surprised me and it took me awhile to accept it. That was all my fault for not reading the synopsis properly before I started reading it though.
I really enjoyed Thicker Than Water. It was really addictive and I didn't want to put it down. I did get some of what happened to Thomas's mother but not all of it before it was revealed. I clicked to who was behind it but not who actually did it. That whole paranormal thing threw me off a bit.
I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book but it wasn't this. I kind of
thought it would be Thomas and Charlotte trying to figure out what really happened to his mother, maybe finding her killer and falling for each other along the way. That wasn't even half of it.
I don't know why I thought Thomas was innocent when everything pointed to him being guilty but I did. I felt like it would be too easy for him to be the killer. I liked Thomas, he was funny. And considering everything he was going through, all the secrets that he discovered, he never gave up.
Charlotte had to put up with a lot too. The way her family treated her like she was a child. Ugh, and her grandmother! I think I would have blown up at them if that was my family. Despite everything she was told by her family about Thomas she obviously saw something in him and chose to go against her family's wishes and kept seeing him.
I couldn't believe how many people in that town treated him like a murderer before he'd even been charged. Okay, so it did look bad but innocent until proven guilty right? Apparently not for the people in this town and especially the cops. I think they were worst of all.
I didn't see on the back of the book that this was a paranormal story so the direction it went in with Thomas's family really surprised me and it took me awhile to accept it. That was all my fault for not reading the synopsis properly before I started reading it though.
I really enjoyed Thicker Than Water. It was really addictive and I didn't want to put it down. I did get some of what happened to Thomas's mother but not all of it before it was revealed. I clicked to who was behind it but not who actually did it. That whole paranormal thing threw me off a bit.
A whirlwind of feelings in this book. Didn’t really life the whole switching back and forth between present day and the past since it kind of spoils the story a bit, but was too interested in the book to really care anyways.
There are plot gaps to keep the reader hooked, and then there are Grand Canyons that make the reader confused and a bit annoyed. So, while this is enjoyable enough to read, the key plot drivers do not come together. While all may be revealed in the next book or books; there are elements in this book that do not make sense; such as you "cannot make someone do what they really don't want to." Also, the whole dream thing looks too convenient. And the ending shows a reliance on extreme promptness to a call to 911. I may have to take this all back, if the author manages to come up with some brilliant explanation for the confusing elements in the sequel...but it will need a supersized dump truck to fill in some of the holes in this plot. But, I will be sure to check out the sequel; because logic is not everything in the world of fiction.
I agree with the less than stellar reviews that I've read so far. The murder mystery was interesting. Charlotte was an interesting character--a quiet rebel. I loved the relationship between Tom and his mother and the awkward relationship between Tom and Stan. Charlotte's brothers were (her whole family actually) annoying but for the most part were just trying to look out for their sister. It was the supernatural element that I didn't like. I didn't like it because it comes out of left field ehen theres less than 50% of book left to read. Theres no build up to the reveal and the resolution is rushed. It honestly read like she didn't know how to wrap up the mystery so she tacked this on. I don't know if this is the start of a new series but it certainly left several ends waiting to be tied up.
Spoiler
the only thing that came close to foreshadowing was the btief mention of how Tom is normally good at reading people.
4.5/5 Stars
I flew through this book. I did not want to put it down at all. Brigid Kemmerer is fast be becoming my favourite author. So far every book ive read of hers has been so compelling and i can not get enough of her writing and her characters. Im always left wanting more.
I flew through this book. I did not want to put it down at all. Brigid Kemmerer is fast be becoming my favourite author. So far every book ive read of hers has been so compelling and i can not get enough of her writing and her characters. Im always left wanting more.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As usual, this Kemmerer books at a quick pace. It’s easy to read and I fell right into the storyline with great characters. Then, suddenly, it took this weird left turn (which I can’t reveal without spoiling it) that was just so weird and unbelievable that the third act broke apart and dissolved. So many questions...
I don’t know what took me so long to finally read this book. Can I just say I did not see that plot twist coming!
Amazing, unexpected and brilliant. Captivating from the very first chapter. It doesn't take long to pick out the characters you'll despise, like Dan, from the characters you'll love, like Charlotte. She is good girl, filled with reckless yet good intentions. There are a ton of jerks identified by chapter two, all cops convinced that Thomas has killed his mom. The question becomes, did he? He and Charlotte start to dig deeper into the mysterious circumstances around his mother's death. This is a whodunit that I didn't figure out. it had me questioning my own gut and the twist was great. I am so happy I read this book.
No, I am sorry, but was I the only one disappointed in the ending?
I did not know about the element she would bring in (I don't want to spoil anything) but I did not enjoy that at all. I expected a better explanation than that.
I love her books, but this one is not for me.
Two stars, because I did think this book was ok before the twist.
I did not know about the element she would bring in (I don't want to spoil anything) but I did not enjoy that at all. I expected a better explanation than that.
I love her books, but this one is not for me.
Two stars, because I did think this book was ok before the twist.